Lissothuria nutriens

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Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Thyonepsolus nutriens Clark, 1901.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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.