PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sea Cucumber 

Neocnus bimarsupiis O'Loughlin & O'Hara, 1992

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Body wall lacks ossicles. Body leathery, soft, dark grey-brown. Up to 6 mm long.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Holothuroidea
Order:
Dendrochirotida
Family:
Cucumariidae
Genus:
Neocnus
Species:
bimarsupiis

General Description

Body soft, dark grey-brown. Body wall is slightly leathery and lacks ossicles. Up to 6 mm long.

Biology

This is one of the smallest holothuroids in the world. Sexes are not separate, and all specimens have two "pockets" (marsupia) at the oral (mouth) end of the dorsal body. The two small ventral tentacles have been observed extending back to the openings of these marsupia from where small tube feet extend, presumably the means of putting eggs or embryos into the marsupia.

Habitat

Attached to brown seaweed fronds in high wave energy parts of the coast, to depth of at least 2 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia, including western and central Victoria.

Species Group

Sea cucumbers

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

6 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

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, Neocnus bimarsupiis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 04 Nov 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4703

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