Lissothuria nutriens
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Ssakolsnow · via Wikipedia: Lissothuria nutriens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lissothuria nutriens, commonly known as the dwarf sea cucumber or scarlet sea cucumber, is a bright red-orange sea cucumber that can be found in tide pools along much of the California coast.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumEchinodermata
- ClassHolothuroidea
- OrderDendrochirotida
- FamilyPsolidae
- GenusLissothuria
- SpeciesLissothuria nutriens
Named by Brandt, 1835
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Lissothuria nutriens (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 529527 (CC BY 4.0)
Where the lissothuria nutriens has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (1,146 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 20 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Authority
- (Clark, 1901)
- Family
- Psolidae
- Order
- Dendrochirotida
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 1,146
Facts from the source article.
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Holothuroidea · Order: Dendrochirotida · Family: Psolidae · Genus: Lissothuria.
Accepted name: Lissothuria nutriens · Authority: (Clark, 1901) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 529527.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Thyonepsolus nutriens Clark, 1901.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=529527 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Lissothuria nutriens. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Habitat zone: benthic.
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 50051) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Lissothuria-nutriens.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
1,146 georeferenced occurrence records for Lissothuria nutriens are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 18 distinct locations from a sample of 1,146 records, omitting 20 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: United States of America (895); Canada (244); Mexico (7).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2279375) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2279375&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=529527 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The dorsal surface is bright red-orange with small white tube feet evenly spread about. The lower surface or foot is pinkish and has rows of white tube feet. It grows to about 2 cm. Surrounding its mouth, it has 2 small and 8 large pinkish red dendritic tentacles. The flesh surrounding its mouth contains a few plates.
Lissothuria nutriens can be found from Monterey Bay to Southern California, and have been found as far north as Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands.
Lissothuria nutriens can be found clinging to or moving across a rocky substrate or in sandy areas between alga holdfasts from the low intertidal to 20 meters deep. Based on the observations on iNaturalist it can also be found on various kinds of alga.
Lissothuria nutriens extends its sticky, dendritic tentacles to catch plankton. The tentacles then move the captured prey down its branches toward its base and into its mouth. It absorbs additional nutrients that it extracts from mud.
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 their development without needing to be fed.
Source: Wikipedia: Lissothuria nutriens — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lissothuria_nutriens (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Related in Lissothuria nutriens
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in Lissothuria nutriens
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: Lissothuria nutriens (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).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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