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Cucumaria miniata - Orange sea cucumber
Geographic range:
Alaska to Mexico
Key features:
Bright orange color and highly branched tentacular array.
Similar species:
--
Habitat(s):
bay (rocky shore), Continental shelf, exposed rocky shore, kelp forest, protected rocky shore
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Primary common name:
Orange sea cucumber |
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ITIS code:
158204 |
Synonymous name(s):
Cucumaria albida |
General grouping:
Sea stars, urchins, cucumbers, sand dollars, brittle stars |
| Geographic Range |
Range description:
Sitka, Alaska to Mexico |
Northern latitude extent:
-- |
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Southern latitude extent:
-- |
East longitude extent:
-- |
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West longitude extent:
-- |
| Intertidal Height |
Lowest intertidal height:
meters OR -2 feet |
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Highest intertidal height:
meters OR 0 feet |
Intertidal height notes:
Can be intertidal in northern part of range, but primarily subtidal from central California and southward. |
| Subtidal Depth Range |
Minimum depth:
0 meters OR 0 feet |
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Maximum depth:
225 meters OR feet |
Subtidal depth notes:
Common inhabitant of kelp forests. |
| Habitats |
Habitat(s):
bay (rocky shore), Continental shelf, exposed rocky shore, kelp forest, protected rocky shore |
Habitat notes:
In cracks, crevices, or under large rocks. Rarely with the entire body exposed. |
| Abundance |
Relative abundance:
Common |
| Species Description |
General description:
Cucumaria miniata is a bright orange sea cucumber, with an elaborate array of 10 finely branched oral tentacles. Several branchlets off the main axis of each tentacle begin about one-third of the way up from the base, and the branchlets have additional branchings, leading to an incredibly large surface area for capturing organic detritus and planktonic prey.
The main body, which is elongate and smooth, has five rows of tube feet, each 4-6 tube feet across. The base and length of each tube foot is often a darker orange, verging on brown. However the tips of the tube feet tend to be very pale orange, almost white. |
Distinctive features:
The bright orange color of this cucumber differentiates it from all other species along the central California coast. The tube feet are aligned in five distinct rows along the main body axis. |
Size:
Length: to 20 cm
Body diameter: 3-5 cm
Tentacular diameter: to 15 cm
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| Natural History |
General natural history:
This bright orange sea cucumber is most commonly observed from the anterior, with its ten highly branched oral tentacles extended out to filter the water. The rest of the body, which is cylindrical and elongate, is usually clinging tightly to the walls of the crevice or crack surrounding the cucumber. When disturbed, the tentacles retract into the oral cavity, completely disappearing and the cucumber withdraws, folding into itself and receding back into the protection of the crevice. |
Predator(s):
Predators may include sea stars such as Solaster. |
Prey:
Detritus and plankton. |
| Feeding behavior |
Feeding behavior(s):
Sessile suspension feeder |
Feeding behavior notes:
As a sessile suspension feeder, Cucumaria miniata relies on its highly branched tentacles (high surface area) to passively capture drifting food. As a tentacle becomes laden with material, it is moved to the mouth and cleaned, then held out again. Divers can readily observe the steady insertion of individual tentacles on undisturbed cucumbers. |
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| March - April |
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Reproduction:
In Puget Sound, planktonic larvae appear in the water column. |
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Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary:
-- |
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Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary:
-- |
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Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary:
Unknown if it is currently harvested. |
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Listing Status:
Some cucumber species are harvested for human consumption. |
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Monitoring Trends:
-- |
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