Lissothuria nutriens
A small, bright red-orange sea cucumber of California tide pools.
The dwarf sea cucumber, also called the scarlet sea cucumber, is a vivid red-orange species that lives in tide pools along much of California’s coast. Its upper side is bright red-orange with small white tube feet scattered evenly across it, while the pinkish underside has rows of white tube feet. It reaches about 2 cm in length. Around its mouth are two small and eight larger pinkish-red, branching tentacles, and the flesh near the mouth contains a few plates.
This sea cucumber ranges from Monterey Bay down to Southern California, and has been spotted as far north as Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands. It clings to or moves across rocky surfaces, or lives in sandy areas between algae holdfasts, from the low intertidal zone down to 20 meters deep. Observations on iNaturalist also show it on various kinds of algae.
To feed, it extends sticky, branching tentacles to catch plankton, then moves the captured prey down the tentacle branches toward the base and into its mouth. It also absorbs extra nutrients from mud. For reproduction, it broods a small number of large eggs by moving them into pits on its upper surface. As a member of the order Dendrochirotida, the eggs contain enough energy for the larvae to develop fully without needing to eat.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Lissothuria nutriens
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lissothuria nutriens has a bright red-orange dorsal surface with small white tube feet evenly spread about, while its lower surface or foot is pinkish with rows of white tube feet. It grows to about 2 cm. Surrounding its mouth are 2 small and 8 large pinkish red dendritic tentacles, and the flesh around its mouth contains a few plates. The species extends its sticky, dendritic tentacles to catch plankton, then moves the captured prey down the branches toward its base and into its mouth; it also absorbs additional nutrients extracted from mud. In reproduction, Lissothuria nutriens broods a small number of large eggs by moving them to pits on its dorsal surface. As a member of the order Dendrochirotida, the eggs have sufficient energy to enable the larvae to complete development without needing to be fed.
Reader's Guide
Lissothuria nutriens is a small sea cucumber documented from Monterey Bay to Southern California, with observations as far north as Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands. It inhabits rocky substrates or sandy areas between alga holdfasts from the low intertidal to 20 meters deep, and iNaturalist observations indicate it can also be found on various kinds of alga. Its bright red-orange coloration and small size make it distinctive among tide-pool fauna. The species' feeding method—extending sticky dendritic tentacles to capture plankton and also absorbing nutrients from mud—illustrates a dual strategy for nutrient acquisition. Its reproductive strategy of brooding large eggs on the dorsal surface, with larvae that develop without external feeding, is characteristic of the order Dendrochirotida. These features contribute to its ecological role in California coastal waters, though the article does not discuss broader significance or legacy beyond these biological details.
Did You Know?
- Lissothuria nutriens grows to about 2 cm in length.
- Its tentacles are sticky and dendritic, used to catch plankton.
- It has been observed on various kinds of alga according to iNaturalist.
More in Sea Cucumbers and Brittle Stars, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced