Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers or cotton-spinners)
- Blue Spiny Lobster (Panulirus versicolor)
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Distribution:
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific
Habitat :
Occasional under rocks in clear water
Max. size :
1m extended
Behavior and biology :
They have very thin skin with tiny embedded hooks used to cling to anything it comes in contact with. For this reason they are easily damaged when handled, especially with gloves. The body is able to expand and contract a great deal. The body is white with brown and yellow.
They feed upon detritus collected from the seafloor or suspended in the water column.
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra)
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Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
Habitat :
On shallow sandy bottoms
Max. size :
Up to 30 cm length
Behavior and biology :
The body is black, often covered with sand. If it is attacked or injured, it will expel its internal organs, which can be toxic to fish.
