Bohadschia marmorata

Bohadschia marmorata, commonly known as the brown sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It lives on the seabed in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

Bohadschia marmorata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Holothuriida
Family: Holothuriidae
Genus: Bohadschia
Jaeger, 1833
Species:
B. marmorata
Binomial name
Bohadschia marmorata
Jaeger, 1833 [2]
Synonyms
  • Holothuria marmorata Jaeger, 1833
  • Holothuria utrimquestigmosa Haacke, 1880
  • Sporadipus (Colpochirota) ualanensis Brandt, 1835

Description

Bohadschia marmorata is cylindrical in shape and grows to about 35 centimetres (14 in) long. The body wall is tough and leathery and has a rough texture due to the calcareous spicules it contains. It is covered in translucent papillae up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) across and a few short spines. The anterior end of the body is somewhat narrowed and has a mouth surrounded by a ring of retractile tentacles. The posterior end is rounded and has an anal opening. Adjoining this is the cloaca through which defensive white sticky threads, the cuvierian tubules, may be ejected when the animal is stressed. The cloaca is also connected to the respiratory tree, into and out of which water is pumped for gas exchange. The body colour is cream or orange partially obscured by variable numbers of dark brown speckles and blotches. On the underside is a wide pale-coloured longitudinal stripe and many short, slender tube feet with knobbly tips.[3][4][5]

Distribution and habitat

Bohadschia marmorata is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The range extends from the Red Sea and east coast of Africa to Japan, the Philippines and Australia.[2] It lives on the sandy or gravelly bottoms of shallow water areas and seagrass meadows at depths down to about 36 metres (118 ft). It is often semi-submerged in the sand.[2][5]

Biology

Bohadschia marmorata is a detritivore. It uses its tube feet to move around and scoops sand, mud and debris into its mouth with its oral tentacles. Having processed this material in its gut, it voids the remains, leaving a characteristic trail of sand on the seabed.[2][6]

References
  1. Conand, C. & Purcell, S. (2013). "Bohadschia marmorata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T180411A1627333. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180411A1627333.en.
  2. Paulay, Gustav (2010). "Bohadschia marmorata Jaeger, 1833". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  3. Bohadschia marmorata Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  4. Sea Cucumber or Beche-De-Mer Sea-Ex. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  5. Bohadschia marmorata: Brown Sandfish Cook Islands Biodiversity. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  6. Rowe, F. W. E.; J. Gates (1995). Echinodermata. Zoological catalogue of Australia. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN 0-643-05696-3.
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