Biology:Stichopus chloronotus
| Stichopus chloronotus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroidea |
| Order: | Synallactida |
| Family: | Stichopodidae |
| Genus: | Stichopus |
| Species: | S. chloronotus
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| Binomial name | |
| Stichopus chloronotus Brandt, 1835[2]
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Stichopus chloronotus is a species of sea cucumber. Common names include the greenfish sea cucumber, the spiky sea cucumber and the black knobby sea cucumber. [3] It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. It has a wide range and is abundant and the IUCN lists it as being of "Least Concern".
Description
Stichopus chloronotus is a fairly large species growing to about 25 cm (10 in) with a firm but pliable body and a squarish cross section. The skin is smooth but there are numerous conical fleshy papillae in longitudinal rows, and these are larger on the lower lateral angles. This sea cucumber is a deep blackish-green in colour, and has yellow or red tips to the papillae.[3][4]
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Some specimens can be blueish
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Distribution and habitat
Stichopus chloronotus is native to the Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from the Red Sea and the East Coast of Africa, through Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comores and Réunion[2] to Australia, Indonesia, China, Japan, Guam, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.[1] It lives on reefs, but can also be found on rubble located on the outer reef flats[4] at depths down to about 12 m (39 ft).[3]
Biology
Stichopus chloronotus is a detritivore and sifts through the sediment on the seabed with its tentacles and feeds on detritus and other organic matter including plant and animal remains, bacteria, protozoa, diatoms and faeces.[5] In the process it swallows a lot of sand and plays an important part in churning up and aerating the seabed.[6]
Stichopus chloronotus can reproduce asexually by undergoing transverse fission, forming two new individuals which each regenerate the missing parts. It can also reproduce sexually.[1]
Status
Stichopus chloronotus is gathered for human consumption across much of its range. Although not one of the most important species for this purpose, it resembles the much-favoured Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and is increasingly being caught in some areas as supplies of that species dwindle. This species has a widespread distribution and is common in many parts of its range so the IUCN lists it as being of "Least Concern".[1] It is also known to occur in several protected areas, including the Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve in Lakshadweep, India.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Conand, C.; Gamboa, R.; Purcell, S. (2013). "Stichopus chloronotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180477A1635468.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/180477/1635468. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Paulay, Gustav (2013). "Stichopus chloronotus Brandt, 1835". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=149789.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Greenfish sea cucumber". Florent's Guide to the Tropical Reefs. http://reefguide.org/stichopuschloronotus.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Stichopus chloronotus". North Australian Sea Cucumbers. Marine Species Identification Portal. http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=nasc&id=78.
- ↑ Poh-Sze Choo. "Population status, fisheries and trade of sea cucumbers in Asia". FAO. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0375e/i0375e03.pdf. Retrieved 2012-06-09.[dead ftp link] (To view documents see Help:FTP)
- ↑ Marine Biology Papers, Volume 19 Carnegie Institution of Washington. Tortugas Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington. 1924, p 34
- ↑ Mohammednowshad, B.; K.K., Idreesbabu; S., Sureshkumar (4 May 2021). "Habitat wise variability in the diversity of sea cucumbers in Lakshadweep Archipelago, North-Western Indian Ocean". Regional Studies in Marine Science (Elsevier) 41. doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101805. Bibcode: 2021RSMS...4501805M. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352485521001973. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
External links
- Photos of Stichopus chloronotus on Sealife Collection
Wikidata ☰ Q910561 entry
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