PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sea Cucumber 

Trachythyone candida O'Loughlin & O'Hara, 1992

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Body wall ossicles are microscopic scales, perforated knobbed buttons, and shallow cups. Small (body up to 8 mm long), calcareous, flexible, tubular tapered body, may be slightly pentagonal in cross section and keeled, glittering white colour.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Holothuroidea
Order:
Dendrochirotida
Family:
Cucumariidae
Genus:
Trachythyone
Species:
candida

General Description

Body tubular and tapered, may be slightly pentagonal in cross section and keeled. Glittering white in appearance. Up to 1 cm long.

Biology

The easterly distribution of this small and difficult-to-find species suggests that it might also occur in New Zealand.

Habitat

Under rocks and on seaweed, to depth of at least 7 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Tasmania and Victoria.

Species Group

Sea cucumbers

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1 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, Trachythyone candida, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 24 Nov 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4715

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