Euapta godeffroyi
(Semper, 1868)
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Description
Euapta godeffroyi is the "largest" sea cucumber in Oman. The "snake like" sea cucumber often reaches length of more than 1.5 m. This species of sea-cucumber belongs to a class of holothuroids without tube feet with the exception of 15 well developed circum-oral feather like tentacles: the Apodidae (without podia). The body seems formed of successive rings with cream, grey and brown blotches. 5 dark and yellow stripes extend from the mouth to the anus of the animal.
The skin of this group of sea cucumber is very thin. In the pods, the spicules includes in addition to plates, large anchors that look like microscopic ship anchors. The sharp points of the anchors protrude easily through the animal skin and function similarly to "velcro", attaching the animal to the sediment or to the hand of the diver that tries to manipulate it.
The skin of this group of sea cucumber is very thin. In the pods, the spicules includes in addition to plates, large anchors that look like microscopic ship anchors. The sharp points of the anchors protrude easily through the animal skin and function similarly to "velcro", attaching the animal to the sediment or to the hand of the diver that tries to manipulate it.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Distribution
Euapta geoffroyi is a common sea cucumber in Oman, but its cryptic habits during the day makes it rather difficult to see.
It seems distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
It seems distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
IUCN status
Data deficient (DD)
Data deficient (DD)
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Ecology and Biology
Eupta godeffroyi is a nocturnal deposit feeders. It spends the day hidden under rocks and boulders and emerge at night to feed. It collects the rich film of organic matter on the sediments with its feathered tentacles.