More Specific ID of a Sea Cucumber Requested

[archiebald]

I managed to get this rather nice shot of my daughter examining this multicolored sea cucumber at Finger Reef in Apra Harbor, Guam last week.

Can anyone offer a suggestion for the common or scientific name of this type. Saw many of the more common black type of course, and a lesser number of these.

Thanks in advance.

 

[maractwin]

I think that is Bohadschia graeffei, the Blackspotted Sea Cucumber.

-Mark

 

[iamrushman]

nice pic....thanks for sharing.

 

[drbill]

Although a number of sea cucumbers can be ID'ed by their morphology and pattern, some require examination of the calcium carbonate spicules embedded in their skin to be certain. I can't say anything about this specific one, but I have two unidentified sea cucumbers right here in SoCal waters that will require a spicule sample for positive ID.

 

[maractwin]

There are many cucumbers out there that I would not attempt to identify. But this is one of the common ones, regularly seen on the kind of reefs scuba divers like in the South Pacific. And I haven't heard it to be part of a complex of look-alike species. But as an amateur, working from a photo, no I'm not certain of the ID.

-Mark

 

[archiebald]

Thanks for the replies, I honestly had no idea there were so many variations.