Sea cucumber(?) ID

Hi Leslie,

Here is another one for you.

I found this beautiful, ornate little guy here in the southern Bahamas crawling on the sand in about 6 feet of water. It was approximately 35-40mm in length.

Is it a baby sea cucumber? Do you know who it is?

Thanks so much, Anne

Hi Anne -- yes, it is. If you don't mind I'll send your pic to Gordon Hendler, our echinoderm curator. He's one of the authors of "Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, and Allies - Echinoderms of Florida and the Caribbean".

Hi Anne -- yes, it is. If you don't mind I'll send your pic to Gordon Hendler, our echinoderm curator. He's one of the authors of "Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, and Allies - Echinoderms of Florida and the Caribbean".

Super, Leslie, and now that you mention it, I have the book at home. I'll look forward to hearing from him.

Gordon agreed that it was a juvenile sea cucumber, too small to put a name on it. It reminded him of a Holothuria but he couldn't be sure about the family from the picture. Even if he had a specimen it would be difficult to identify as juvenile and adult sea cucumbers often have different types of spicules - the most important character for identifying these animals.

Gordon agreed that it was a juvenile sea cucumber, too small to put a name on it. It reminded him of a Holothuria but he couldn't be sure about the family from the picture. Even if he had a specimen it would be difficult to identify as juvenile and adult sea cucumbers often have different types of spicules - the most important character for identifying these animals.

Thanks Leslie and Gordon, I'll call it a "Cutie juvenile"

A cutie cukie?