Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Three-rowed sea cucumber
Size:
On average, this sea cucumber grows to 8 inches (21 centimeters) long.
Diet:
These sea cucumbers feed on the top layers of sand underneath coral reef communities. They filter organic matter like algae, tiny aquatic organisms and waste materials from the sand before expelling the rest back into the ocean.
Range & Habitat:
The three-rowed sea cucumber lives in sandy, muddy and rocky bottom habitats in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf and Caribbean Sea.
Details:
These sea cucumbers might resemble cookie dough, but their texture and coloring helps them blend in and avoid predators. They eat and help to recycle organic material on the ocean floor, playing important roles in the ecosystem. Like many sea cucumbers, they can expel their internal organs to deter predators. The organs regenerate over time.