Poli's sea cucumber (Holothuria poli)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Holothuria poli
- Common name
- Poli's sea cucumber
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Holothuriidae
- Genus
- Holothuria
- Size
- 15–30 cm
- Depth
- 0–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand, seagrass
- Behaviours
- benthic, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Holothuria poli reaches 30 cm. One of the most common sea cucumbers in Mediterranean. Cylindrical red-brown to orange-brown body with numerous small darker red-brown papillae distributed on back. Lives from 0 to 50 m on sand, mud and Posidonia seagrass very abundant in Mediterranean. Detritivore grazing sediment organic matter. Often visible at sand surface. Local commercial fishery (consumption in Spain, Turkey). Less photogenic but much more common cousin of H. forskali. Named after Italian naturalist Giuseppe Saverio Poli.
Photo of Poli's sea cucumber
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Poli's sea cucumber?
- Poli's sea cucumber (Holothuria poli) reaches 15–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Poli's sea cucumber?
- Poli's sea cucumber is found between 0–50 m deep.
- Is the Poli's sea cucumber dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Poli's sea cucumber?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Poli's sea cucumber?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Holothuria
- Holothuria tubulosa - Tubular sea cucumber
- Holothuria forskali - Cotton-spinner
- Holothuria atra - Black sea cucumber
- Holothuria edulis - Pink sea cucumber
- Holothuria fuscogilva - White teatfish
- Holothuria sanctori - Brown sea cucumber
Other species in the family Holothuriidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 732380)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2279179)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia