PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sea Cucumber 

Cucuvitrum rowei O'Loughlin & O'Hara, 1992

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Body wall ossicles are scales and perforated plates, many with knobs. Small (body up to 15 mm long), calcareous (scales in the body wall), glassy, white to slightly golden.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Holothuroidea
Order:
Dendrochirotida
Family:
Cucumariidae
Genus:
Cucuvitrum
Species:
rowei

General Description

Small body with calcareous outer wall. Glassy, white to slightly golden appearance. Up to 2 cm long.

Biology

This little species is one of two fissiparous sea cucumber species on the coast of Victoria. This reproductive strategy of dividing the body in two was discovered recently when one live individual in a seawater container became two overnight.

Habitat

Under surface of rocks and among seaweeds, to depth of at least 16 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea cucumbers

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

2 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 1861

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author O'Loughlin, P. M.

Mark O'Loughlin is an Honorary Associate in marine invertebrates at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
O'Loughlin, P. M., 2011, Sea Cucumber, Cucuvitrum rowei, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4694

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