General Description
Body soft, rounded with upturned oral (mouth) and anal ends, pale to dark brown with underneath white. Flat, oval white sole on ventral side (underneath). Up to 3 cm long.
Biology
These animals are difficult to find because they are camouflaged with sand and algal fragments held by their small dorsal and lateral tube feet. Females brood-protect eggs and embryos in individual pockets around the oral cone (mouth area).
Habitat
Around and under rocks, also in seaweed, to depth of at least 2 m.
Reefs
Distribution guide
New Zealand, Tasmania and eastern Victoria.
Species Group
Depth
Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Water Column
Max Size
3 cm
Diet
Organic matter
Commercial Species
No
Global Dispersal
Recorded in Australia
Identify
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Not listed
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Not listed
Author
Mark O'Loughlin is an Honorary Associate in marine invertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
O'Loughlin, P. M., 2011, Sea Cucumber, Psolidiella nigra, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 26 Nov 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4709
