Sea Cucumber not Nudibranch

April 9, 2010
From: Andrew J Seaman

Dear Bill

I have taken a picture of what I believe to be a Nudibranch but can't establish an Identity. The picture was taken in the Maldives, North Ari Atol Himendhoo Thila in March this year.

The picture shows that this species has no median /nmidline ridge but has two rows of yellow tubercles on white body seperated by black stripes.

Help with indentification would be appreciated

Locality: Himendhoo Thila, North Ari Atol, 12 -15m, Maldives, Indian Ocean, 03 March 2010, Towards top of thila reef on outside.. Length: 30-40mm best estimate. Photographer: Andrew J Seaman.

Andrew J Seaman

andrew@flseaman.co.uk

Seaman, A.J., 2010 (Apr 9) Sea Cucumber not Nudibranch. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23438

Dear Andrew,

This animal does look very like a phyllidiid, such as Phyllidia varicosa, but is in fact a juvenile sea cucumber. Its name is Bohadschia graeffei [or perhaps Pearsonothuria graeffei], and if you look at messages on the Sea Cucumber Fact Sheet you will see it only has the Phyllidia colouration when it is small.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Apr 9). Comment on Sea Cucumber not Nudibranch by Andrew J Seaman. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23438

Factsheet

Sea cucumbers

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