Habitat: Seagrass beds and sandy bottoms with algae; has been collected on shallow-water coqionoid ledges and deep water Oculina coral reefs. Distribution: Caribbean, south Carolina as far south as Brazil. Natural History Notes: I. badionotus is one of the most common shallow-water sea cucumbers in the western Atlantic. In Panama, a harvesting ban is in currently effect until 2008. Adults live fully exposed on mud, sand, or rocks; juveniles attach to the underside of rubble or coral slabs. In a given day, an individual travels about 0.5m and refills its gut three to four times. The species has been examined for the presence of neurotransmitters involved in the contractile activity of its intestine. Depth: low tide mark to 65 m Characteristics: I. badionotusis a large species that grows to a length of 45cm. It is distinguished by the presence of several to many dark, conspicuous warts on its dorsal surface and the thick conical papillae protruding from the ventrolateral margin. The body wall is very thick and rigid and exudes a slimy mucus when the animal is removed from water. The mouth is located ventrally and surrounded by about 20 large, shield-shaped tentacles with thick stalks. The sea-cucumber can vary dramatically in color.