Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) arenacava
Samijn, Massin & Muthiga, 2001
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Description
This is one of the 3 "black sea cucumber" species found in Oman. This species is nearly cylindrical with papules (tube feet) considerably larger than that of both H. atra and H. leucospilota, giving it a hairy appearance. The animal is almost always completely buried in coarse sediment and thus nearly invisible. When the sediment is covered with a rich layer of organic matter, the disruption created by the movement of the animal underneath makes a distinctive lighter furrow.
It is considerably larger than Holothuria atra and resemble H. leucospilota. When digged out of the sediment, it temporarily takes a oval to cylindrical shape by contracting the muscles of its body wall before slowly relaxing and reburying itself.
It is considerably larger than Holothuria atra and resemble H. leucospilota. When digged out of the sediment, it temporarily takes a oval to cylindrical shape by contracting the muscles of its body wall before slowly relaxing and reburying itself.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Distribution
Holothuria arenacava was only found in a couple of bays near Bandar Al-Khyran. World wide, so far, it is only found in its type locality (Mombasa Kenya) and in Oman. In both sites in oman, it was found at the bottom of the reef, near 12-15 m in depth.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Ecology and Biology
Holothuria arenacava lives in the sediments from which extracst the organic matter between the grains of sands. It is almost always totally buried which makes it very difficult to observe. It is probably more common that its distribution suggests, but due to its burying behavior, it is easily missed in regular surveys.