Lampert's sea cucumber (Synaptula lamperti)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Richard Ling from NSW, Australia · via Wikipedia: Synaptula lamperti · CC BY-SA 2.0
Synaptula lamperti is a species of sea cucumber in the family Synaptidae in the phylum Echinodermata, found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. The echinoderms are marine invertebrates and include the sea urchins, starfish and sea cucumbers.
They are radially symmetric and have a water vascular system that operates by hydrostatic pressure, enabling them to move around by use of many suckers known as tube feet. Sea cucumbers are usually leathery, gherkin-shaped animals with a cluster of short tentacles at one end. They live on the sea bottom.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumEchinodermata
- ClassHolothuroidea
- OrderApodida
- FamilySynaptidae
- GenusSynaptula
- SpeciesSynaptula lamperti
Named by Heding, 1928
Close relatives
Other species of Synaptula with a Codexery entry.
- Synaptula recta
- Synaptula spinifera
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Synaptula lamperti (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 242070 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.05 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: SeaLifeBase species summary
Where the lampert's sea cucumber (synaptula lamperti) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (64 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 7 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Holothuroidea · Order: Apodida · Family: Synaptidae · Genus: Synaptula.
Accepted name: Synaptula lamperti · Authority: Heding, 1928 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 242070.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Synaptula membrana Heding, 1928; Synaptula purpurea Heding, 1928.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=242070 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Synaptula lamperti. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 4.6 cm · Depth range: 0–35 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.
SeaLifeBase notes: It occurs on sponges; benthic; crown (Ref. 356).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 84724) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Synaptula-lamperti.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
64 georeferenced occurrence records for Synaptula lamperti are published through GBIF from 8 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 27 distinct locations from a sample of 64 records, omitting 7 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: Indonesia (26); Australia (23); Philippines (3); Palau (3); Timor-Leste (3); Sri Lanka (2); Malaysia (2); Singapore (2).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4341994) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4341994&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=242070 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
S. lamperti has an elongated, opaque body with several dark-coloured, longitudinal stripes. There are no tube feet on the body but a few have been modified into a tuft of pinnate feeding tentacles which are constantly in motion.
The skeletal system consists of small calcareous plates which are embedded in the cuticle. These ossicles consist of little hooks that protrude through the skin and make the animal seem sticky. It moves around rapidly and efficiently using the hooks at one end of its body for adhesion while muscular contractions and hydrostatic pressure changes alter the position of the other end.
The genus Synaptula comprises some thirty very similar species, and identification as Synaptula lamperti is often wrongly attributed to all species observed by amateurs. However, the coloration patterns formerly used to distinguish these species (notably by Heding, 1928) is no more considered reliable, and the number of synonymies of visually distinct species, notably with Synaptula lamperti, should call for the greatest caution, apart from any verification by dermal spicules.
Distribution
S. lamperti is found in the Western Pacific including the coasts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia and the Philippines.
Biology
S. lamperti is very common on coral reefs, both on the exposed and the inner slopes. It is a detrivore that specifically feeds on or around living sponges of the Ianthella basta species. Synaptula lamperti often remains firmly attached to the surface of its sponge host, sometimes for extended periods, rather than moving across the substrate, indicating a sessile-oriented feeding strategy on the sponge surface.It appears to require the nutrients provided by this particular sponge to thrive, as it ingests microscopic organic particles such as diatoms and also substances exuded from the surface of its host sponge. It feeds only at night, and food is processed rapidly, with a passage time through the digestive tract of under an hour.
Most individuals of S. lamperti are either male or female, but hermaphrodites occasionally occur and self-fertilisation may take place. The closely related species Synaptula hydriformis has been studied in detail and its fertilised eggs are retained in the coelom where the juveniles develop in a safe protected environment. If S. lamperti becomes damaged, both the anterior and the posterior portions can regenerate into new individuals.
Source: Wikipedia: Synaptula lamperti — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptula_lamperti (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
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: Synaptula lamperti (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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