Holothuria hartmeyeri

Sea cucumber
Holothuria hartmeyeri
Holothuria hartmeyeri, Albany, WA, Photo: Tom Davis

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Superficially appears like a stretched version of Stichopus ludwigi, but the reproductive structures and the shape of spicules in the body wall indicate that the two species belong in different families. It can be distinguished from S. ludwigi by the darker and more irregular blotches on the upper surface as well as the more elongate shape.


Information

Max Size: 25 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 14.3-27.6°C

Depth: N/A

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Data Deficient

Occurrence: Rare (0.8% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (2 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney