Euapta godeffroyi
A nocturnal deposit feeder with anchor spicules for adhesion.
Last updated
Euapta godeffroyi, known as the sticky snake sea cucumber, belongs to the family Synaptidae and inhabits coral reefs across the tropical Indo-Pacific. It has a long, slender body that reaches about 40 cm in length, with fifteen feathery tentacles circling its mouth. Its creamy white body is marked with grey blotches and a pair of brown or greenish longitudinal stripes. The skin contains microscopic calcareous spicules, which include anchors and perforated plates with large holes.
This species ranges from the Red Sea and Madagascar to Hawaii and Easter Island, including Indonesia, the Philippines, northern Australia, and New Caledonia. It lives at depths up to about 77 m, in tidal pools, among stones, on sand, and among rubble on upper reef slopes. Nocturnal and a deposit feeder, it hides among rubble and corals during the day.
At night, it emerges, using its anchor spicules to grip surfaces while extending its tentacles onto the sediment. Food particles stick to the tentacles and are scraped off into the mouth. It selects the most nutritious particles, consuming several times its body weight daily.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumEchinodermata
- ClassHolothuroidea
- OrderApodida
- FamilySynaptidae
- GenusEuapta
- SpeciesEuapta godeffroyi
Named by (Semper, 1868)
Close relatives
Other species of Euapta with a Codexery entry.
- Euapta lappa Euapta lappa
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Euapta godeffroyi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 210968 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.4 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Euapta godeffroyi
Where the euapta godeffroyi has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (528 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 32 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of internal skeleton does Euapta godeffroyi have?
Beneath its skin are microscopic calcareous spicules that come in two main forms: anchor-shaped elements and perforated plates with large holes. The anchor-type spicules in particular help the animal grip onto surfaces, which is where its 'sticky snake' nickname comes from.
Where can you find Euapta godeffroyi in the wild?
Its distribution spans from the Red Sea and Madagascar eastward to Hawaii and Easter Island, including Indonesia, the Philippines, northern Australia, and New Caledonia. It has been recorded at depths down to approximately 77 meters (253 feet).
More in Sea Cucumbers
Elsewhere in Sea Cucumbers and Brittle Stars
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Euapta godeffroyi (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced