Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Holothurioidea

Order: Dendrochirotida

Family: Cucumariidae

Scientific name: Ocnus lacteus

 

Norwegian: -

(Ålesund - Møre og Romsdal / 9 meters / 4.29.2007)

Distribution: The distribution along the coast of Norway is somewhat uncertain. I am not aware of registrations north of Møre og Romsdal. It lives on the sea floor, but can occasionally be seen crawling on the leaves of seaweed and algae.

Characteristics:  This tiny sea cucumber usually has a body length of 1 cm, but may reach 4 cm in rare cases. The skin is white and its appearance is dominated by spines or tube feet organized in five zigzag rows. Its appearance is very similar to the slightly bigger O. planci.

All pictures: