Parastichopus parvimensis

The warty sea cucumber (Parastichopus parvimensis) is a Pacific species of sea cucumber that can be found from the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, to Monterey Bay, California, USA, although only scattered individuals were reported to occur north of Point Conception, California.[1][2] It is found mainly in low energy environments from the intertidal zone down to 30 m (98 ft),[3] but can occur as deep as 60 m (200 ft).[1]

Warty sea cucumber
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Synallactida
Family: Stichopodidae
Genus: Parastichopus
Liao, 1986
Species:
P. parvimensis
Binomial name
Parastichopus parvimensis
H.L. Clark (1913)
Synonyms

Apostichopus parvimensis H.L. Clark 1913

Physical description

The warty sea cucumber can reach a maximum length of 30–40 cm (1 ft 0 in–1 ft 4 in).[2] It has a soft, cylindrical body, with red-brown to yellowish leathery skin. There are numerous grey spots along its body, hence the name "warty." It has an endoskeleton just below the skin. The mouth and anus are on opposite sides of the body. The mouth is surrounded by ten retractable tentacles that are used to bring food in. Five rows of tube feet extend from the mouth to the anus.

Behavior and reproduction

Parastichopus parvimensis is a solitary nocturnal animal. When threatened, it can expel its internal organs through its anus and grow new ones.

These sea cucumbers have separate sexes, and eggs are fertilized externally. Spawning usually takes place in November, and each female can produce thousands of eggs. After fertilization, a larva is formed which metamorphoses into a sea cucumber after a few weeks.

References
  1. Mercier, A.; Hamel, J.-F.; Alvarado, J.J.; Paola Ortiz, E.; Benavides, M. & Toral-Granda, T.-G. (2013). "Apostichopus parvimensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2013: e.T180368A1621102. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180368A1621102.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. Chávez, E. a., De Lourdes Salgado-Rogel, M. a., & Palleiro-Nayar, J. (2011). Stock assessment of the warty sea cucumber fishery (Parastichopus parvimensis) of NW Baja California. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations Reports, 52, 136–147.
  3. Bruckner A. W. 2006. Sea cucumber population status, fisheries and trade in the United States. In: Proceedings of the CITES workshop on the conservation of the sea cucumber in the families Holothuriidae and Stichopodidae. A. W. Brucker (Ed), NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-34, USA, pp. 192–202
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