Orange-footed sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Cucumaria frondosa
- Common name
- Orange-footed sea cucumber
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Cucumariidae
- Genus
- Cucumaria
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, coralligenous, mud
- Behaviours
- benthic, filter-feeder, sedentary
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic
Description
Cucumaria frondosa reaches 50 cm and 500 g. Cylindrical body orange-brown to dark red with five rows of tube feet. Crown of ten highly branched tentacles filters plankton. Lives from 0 to 300 m on rocks and shell bottoms, from the Arctic to Brittany. Growing commercial fishery for Asian export. Lifespan over 10 years. Spectacular when deployed, one of the largest sea cucumbers of the North Atlantic.
Photo of Orange-footed sea cucumber
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Orange-footed sea cucumber dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Orange-footed sea cucumber?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Orange-footed sea cucumber?
- Found in: East Atlantic.
Similar species
- Paracentrotus lividus - Purple sea urchin
- Astropecten aranciacus - Red comb star
- Ophiothrix fragilis - Common brittle star
- Holothuria tubulosa - Tubular sea cucumber
- Ophidiaster ophidianus - Purple sea star
- Hacelia attenuata - Attenuated sea star
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 124612)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5188240)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia