Actinopyga spinea
Burrowing Blackfish
©Anne Hoggett: Anal teeth of Actinopyga spinea (specimen 1) at Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, 16 metres depth, at night.
©Anne Hoggett: Actinopyga spinea (specimen 1) at Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, 16 metres depth, at night.
©Anne Hoggett: Anal teeth of Actinopyga spinea (specimen 2) at Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, 16 metres depth, at night.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Holothuroidea
Order
Aspidochirotida
Family
Holothuriidae
Genus
Actinopyga
Species
Actinopyga spinea
Colours
Distinguishing features
A large tan to brown/black sea cucumber that buries itself in sand. Body surface smooth, not bumpy, with spaced, moderately long podia dorsally. Five yellow or orange anal teeth that are very rough and knobbly. Anus is located near the dorsal side rather than being at the end of the animal. Cuverian tubules absent.
Size
- Up to 38 cm (length, Purcell et al, 2012)
Depth range
- Up to 25 m (Purcell et al, 2012)
Synonyms
Similar taxa
Comments
Grant Leeworthy (Tasmanian Seafoods) advised in August 2014 that this species is present in large numbers on soft bottom away from reefs in the Lizard Island area.
by Anne Hoggett
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Purcell, S.W., Y. Samyn and C. Conand (2012). Commercially important sea cucumbers of the world 150 pp., 30 pl. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.