Species · GBIF taxon 5188234
Orange Sea Cucumber
Cucumaria miniataAlso known as Red Sea Cucumber
Orange sea cucumbers anchor themselves securely in rocky crevices along the wave-swept shores of the Pacific Northwest, extending ten highly branched, bushy tentacles to trap passing organic particles. These bright orange or reddish echinoderms use their tube feet to wedge their thick, muscular bodies into tight gaps, leaving only their colorful feeding crowns exposed to the current. When disturbed or exposed by a low tide, they retract their tentacles completely, transforming into a compact, leathery orange lump.
MarineFilter FeederIntertidal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Phytoplankton
- Zooplankton
- Detritus
Predators
- Sunflower Sea Star
- Morning Sun Star
- Sea Otters
ThreatsHabitat degradation, water pollution, and warming ocean temperatures
HabitatsRocky intertidal zones, crevices, tide pools, and shallow subtidal reefs
Life spanUp to 10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDendrochirotida
- FamilyCucumariidae
- GenusCucumaria
- SpeciesCucumaria miniata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Look in Crevices: Search for the bright orange, bushy tentacles protruding from cracks in rocks or under docks during low tide.
- Avoid Touching: Refrain from poking or pulling on the tentacles, as this causes the animal to retract and stop feeding for hours.
- Watch the Current: Observe them in areas with active water movement, where they actively unfurl their feeding crowns to catch food.
Predator Jerry Kirkhart from Los Osos, Calif. / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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