DESCRIPTION The leopard sea cucumber is a sausage-shaped animal with a smooth, tough, leather skin. It can grow up to 2 feet in length, and it's a grayish - brown color, paler below, with distinctive dark eye-spots surrounded by white haloes. HABITAT,RANGE,DISTRIBUTION This sea cucumber is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and in the Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Madagascar, the Seychelles and Sri Lake to Malaysia and the South Pacific Islands. It is found on coral reefs and on exposed, sandy areas of the seabed at depths of between 10 feet and 120 feet. BEHAVORIAL CHARACTERISTICS Leopard sea cucumbers are scavengers that feed on small food items in the seafloor. Algae, aquatic invertebrates, and waste particles make up their diet. They eat with tube feet surrounding their mouths. It's eaten by crabs, fish, and crustaceans,sea turtles and sea stars. They're also eaten by humans, especially people living in Asia. LIFE CYCLE Leopard sea cucumbers exhibit sexual and asexual reproduction. Unlike most terrestrial animals, sea cumber eggs undergo external fertilization - females release eggs into the water that are fertilized when they come into contact with sperm that mates have released. In order for this form of reproduction to be successful, many males and females must be together at the same time. OTHER INFORMATION This animal is far from extinct, but it still faces a threat: overfishing. Humans include sea cucumbers in their diets, and not for much else. These creatures also live up to 5-10 years. FUN FACT: When disturbed, sea cucumbers can expose skeletal, hook-like structures that would make them harder for predators to eat! SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohadschia_argus http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/sea-cucumber/ http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=7897
1 Comment
|
Authorfollow me on twitter: ArchivesCategories |