Sticky snake sea cucumber (Euapta godeffroyi)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Holothuroidea · Order: Apodida · Family: Synaptidae · Genus: Euapta.

Accepted name: Euapta godeffroyi · Authority: (Semper, 1868) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 210968.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Euapta godefroyii (Semper, 1868); Synapta godeffroyi Semper, 1868.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=210968 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Euapta godeffroyi. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 40 cm · Depth range: 0–77 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 30 of 100.

SeaLifeBase notes: Seagrass beds, coral boulders; benthic; crown (Ref. 473); common on reef and also on sandy bottoms (Ref. 800). Associated with coral communities. Conceals itself in crevices during the day and relocates to the sediment to feed at night. Feeds on organic detritus (Ref. 129602).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 84616) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Euapta-godeffroyi.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

528 georeferenced occurrence records for Euapta godeffroyi are published through GBIF from 54 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 187 distinct locations from a sample of 528 records, omitting 32 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Mexico (98); Indonesia (54); Australia (53); Oman (27); Philippines (25); United States of America (24); French Polynesia (20); Egypt (17); New Caledonia (14); Chinese Taipei (12); Japan (11); Malaysia (11); Maldives (9); Fiji (8); Christmas Island (7).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mascarene Basin; Eastern Africa & Madagascar; Red Sea; Madagascar; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; East Africa; Aldabra; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Comoran Exclusive Economic Zone; Panamanian part of the North Pacific Ocean; Costa Rican part of the North Pacific Ocean.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4341972) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4341972&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=210968 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

E. godeffroyi is a long, slender sea cucumber growing to a length of about 40 cm. A ring of fifteen feathery tentacles encircle the mouth. The body colour is creamy white with blotches of grey and a pair of longitudinal brown or greenish stripes. The spicules (microscopic calcareous structures that project through the skin) are a mixture of anchors and perforated plates with large holes.

E. godeffroyi is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from the Red Sea and Madagascar to Hawaii and Easter Island, and includes Indonesia, the Philippines, northern Australia and New Caledonia. It occurs at depths down to about 77 m in tidal pools, among stones and on sand. It also occurs among rubble on the upper parts and slopes of reefs.

E. godeffroyi is nocturnal and is a deposit feeder. It spends the day hidden among the rubble and corals. It emerges at night, crawling along using its anchor spicules for adhesion, and extending its tentacles onto the sediment which sticks to them; food particles are passed to the mouth where they are scraped off. The sea cucumber selects the more nutritious particles it finds and consumes several times its bodyweight each day.

Source: Wikipedia: Euapta godeffroyi — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euapta_godeffroyi (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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