Sea cucumbers
Info
On the internet and in many reference books, as one might suspect, two color morphs of Actinopyga palauensis are seen, a black and a light gray form.
But far from it, all specimens of Actinopyga palauensis have a black body color, but often covered by many grains of sand like powdered sugar.
This sandy coating hides the sea cucumber from hungry predators on sandy bottoms much better than a bright black coloration.
Habitats:
Actinopyga palauensis occurs in reef passes and forereef areas, primarily on around barrier reefs, but occasionally occurs in lagoons.
Unfortunately, very little is known about the biology of the sea cucumber otherwise.
Etymology:
the species name "palauensis" refers to the locality of holotype and paratypes from the waters around Palau.
Synonym: Actinopyga obesa palauensis Panning, 1944
Synonym: Actinopyga obesa palauensis Panning, 1944
But far from it, all specimens of Actinopyga palauensis have a black body color, but often covered by many grains of sand like powdered sugar.
This sandy coating hides the sea cucumber from hungry predators on sandy bottoms much better than a bright black coloration.
Habitats:
Actinopyga palauensis occurs in reef passes and forereef areas, primarily on around barrier reefs, but occasionally occurs in lagoons.
Unfortunately, very little is known about the biology of the sea cucumber otherwise.
Etymology:
the species name "palauensis" refers to the locality of holotype and paratypes from the waters around Palau.
Synonym: Actinopyga obesa palauensis Panning, 1944
Synonym: Actinopyga obesa palauensis Panning, 1944
