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Distribution: M. intestinalis is a common sea cucumber along the entire Norwegian coast. It is most frequent deeper than 20 meters, usually on substrate of mud or sand.

Characteristics: You may find this sea cucumber less attractive than many other sea creatures. It is certainly a camouflage expert. It attaches objects from the sea bed to its tubercles, making it very difficult to spot. I had to use virtually horizontal light, throwing long shadows to make it appear properly on images. It can grow to a length of 30 cm and a diameter of 6 cm. The mouth, under the body, is surrounded by 20 tentacles. The color is grey or brown, sometimes with a tint of red or blue.

All pictures:

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Holothurioidea

Order: Aspidochirotida

Family: Synallactidae

Scientific name: Mesothuria intestinalis

 

Norwegian: tarmpølse

(Børsa - The Trondheim fjord / 35 meters / 7.17.2008)