Stichopus ludwigi
Sea cucumber
![Stichopus sp. [colemans]](https://images.reeflifesurvey.com/0/species_e2_5757cba595e72.w400.h266.jpg)
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Relatively uncommon species, most often found on the edge of seagrass beds in WA. The colouration and pattern varies little between sites. The upper body has a bone-coloured base covered by small brown spots with three or four darker brown bands across the centre of the body. The lower body also has brown spots but in lower numbers and on a cream-coloured base. A number of short blunt spines, which are very dark, occur around the upper edge of the body.
Information
Max Size: 13 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 13.4-23.4°C
Depth: 2-25m
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: Infrequent (7.4% 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