Actinopyga capillata

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Actinopyga capillata
Actinopyga capillata.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Holothuriida
Family: Holothuriidae
Genus: Actinopyga
Species:
A. capillata
Binomial name
Actinopyga capillata
Rowe & Massin, 2006

Actinopyga capillata, the hairy sea cucumber, [2] is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is found in the tropical West Indo-Pacific region, having a disjunct range, with the main population in island groups in the western Indian Ocean, and a separate population in the Philippines.

Contents

Description

The genus Actinopyga is characterised by the teeth surrounding the anus and by its distinctive shape. This species grows to a length of 15 cm (6 in), has a characteristic body shape and a distinctive pattern of long tube feet on its dorsal surface, giving it a furry appearance; it is dappled or roughly barred in some shade of brown and white. [2] [3]

Distribution and habitat

Actinopyga capillata was first described in 2006 by Rowe & Massin from Réunion and Rodrigues in the Mascarene Islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. It has since been recorded in Mauritius, and there have been two records from the Philippines, Talikud Island in the south and Siquijor Island in the central Philippines. Additionally, there is photographic evidence of its presence in southwestern Madagascar. [2] It occurs in shallow water and is usually associated with reefs and reef slopes, but can occur on areas of soft sediment. [1] Surveys of sea cucumbers elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region have not brought up sightings in the area between Mauritius and the Philippines. [2]

Ecology

Actinopyga capillata is a detritivore and feeds at night by ingesting the soft sediment on the seabed or deposited on coral rubble, absorbing the nutritious material and expelling the residue. Like other members of its genus, it probably does not use cuvierian tubules in self-defence, instead the tissues contain saponins, called holothurin, which may cause a fatal hemolysis in fish and other predatory organisms. [3]

The reproduction of this sea cucumber has not been studied, but is likely to be similar to closely related species. Individuals are either male or female, and in the breeding season, group together, raising themselves as high as possible to release their gametes into the sea. Fertilisation takes place in the water column and the developing embryo passes through a free-swimming auricularia and a doliolaria stage before settling on the seabed and undergoing metamorphosis into a juvenile. [3]

Status

Actinopyga capillata is seldom seen, perhaps because of its cryptic nature and nocturnal habits. Although other members of its genus are gathered in the area for human consumption, this species does not seem to among them. There is little information available on its abundance or population trends, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "data deficient". [1]

Related Research Articles

Sea cucumber Class of echinoderms

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothurian species worldwide is about 1,717 with the greatest number being in the Asia Pacific region. Many of these are gathered for human consumption and some species are cultivated in aquaculture systems. The harvested product is variously referred to as trepang, namako, bêche-de-mer or balate. Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter after which bacteria can continue the degradation process.

<i>Actinopyga</i>

Actinopyga is a genus of sea cucumbers found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions.

<i>Stichopus chloronotus</i>

Stichopus chloronotus is a species of sea cucumber. Common names include the greenfish sea cucumber, the spiky sea cucumber and the black knobby sea cucumber. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. It has a wide range and is abundant and the IUCN lists it as being of "Least Concern".

<i>Bohadschia argus</i>

Bohadschia argus, the leopard sea cucumber, is a species of marine invertebrate in the family Holothuriidae. It is the type species of the genus Bohadschia; Jaeger, 1833.

<i>Bohadschia marmorata</i>

Bohadschia marmorata, commonly known as the brown sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It lives on the seabed in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Pearsonothuria</i>

Pearsonothuria is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Holothuriidae. Pearsonothuria graeffei is the only species in the genus. Graeffe's sea cucumber is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean and the type locality is Viti Island, Fiji.

<i>Acropora grandis</i>

Acropora grandis is a species of colonial stony coral. It is a large species with multiple branches forming a bush-like structure and is found on reefs and in lagoons. It is native to the tropical western Indo-Pacific and has a range extending from East Africa to the east coast of Australia.

<i>Holothuria edulis</i>

Holothuria edulis, commonly known as the edible sea cucumber or the pink and black sea cucumber, is a species of echinoderm in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus Halodeima by Pearson in 1914, making its full scientific name Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis. It is found in shallow water in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean.

<i>Euapta godeffroyi</i>

Euapta godeffroyi, the sticky snake sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Synaptidae. It is found on coral reefs in the tropical Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Actinopyga echinites</i>

Actinopyga echinites, commonly known as the brownfish or deep water redfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

<i>Thelenota rubralineata</i>

Thelenota rubralineata is a species of sea cucumber in the family Stichopodidae, in the phylum Echinodermata, mainly located in the central Indo-Pacific region. It has a distinctive coloring pattern, and can be found on the seabed near coral. T. rubralineata is part of the Thelenota genus, characterized by their large size and the presence of a calcareous ring.

<i>Holothuria fuscocinerea</i>

Holothuria fuscocinerea, the ashy pink sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is placed in the subgenus Stauropora, making its full name Holothuria (Stauropora) fuscocinerea. It is native to shallow water in the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific.

<i>Holothuria fuscopunctata</i>

Holothuria fuscopunctata, the elephant trunkfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae native to shallow water in the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is placed in the subgenus Microthele, making its full name Holothuria (Microthele) fuscopunctata.

<i>Actinopyga caerulea</i>

Actinopyga caerulea, the blue sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical West Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

<i>Actinopyga mauritiana</i>

Actinopyga mauritiana, commonly known as the surf redfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical West Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

<i>Labidodemas rugosum</i>

Labidodemas rugosum is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Actinopyga miliaris</i> Species of sea cucumber

Actinopyga miliaris, commonly known as the hairy blackfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical West Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

<i>Actinopyga lecanora</i>

Actinopyga lecanora, commonly known as the white-bottomed sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical Western Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

Holothuria lessoni, the golden sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the genus Holothuria, subgenus Metriatyla. This sea cucumber inhabits the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, where it is found near islands and reef flats. It is highly sought after in commercial and subsistence fishing and the species threatened by overfishing.

<i>Pleurosicya mossambica</i>

Pleurosicya mossambica, also known as the toothy goby or the Mozambique ghost goby, is a small species of goby native to the tropical Indo-West Pacific region. It was first described by South African ichthyologist J.L.B. Smith in 1959. Like many other gobies, it forms commensal relationships with several other marine invertebrates, including soft corals and sponges.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Conand, C.; Purcell, S. & Gamboa, R. (2013). "Actinopyga capillata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T180474A1635069. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ducarme, Frédéric (2017). "Revision of the geographical range of Actinopyga capillata Rowe & Massin 2006 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)". SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin. 37 (March 2017): 92–94.
  3. 1 2 3 Bourjon, Philippe & Sittler, Alain-Pierre (28 March 2017). "Actinopyga capillata Rowe & Massin, 2006" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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