|
|
Family: Synaptidae
|
Bocas Species Database Habitat: Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and around mangroves; usually associated with marine plants. Distribution: Caribbean Natural History Notes: This species is epiphytic and clings to algae, seagrass blades, and the submerged prop roots of mangrove trees. The holothurid is cryptically colored, with its body wall often matching its host plant. Individuals are active and feed on diatoms and green and brown algae. The species broods young internally, and brooding continues throughout the year, with up to 176 embryos developing in a single adult. The 2-3mm long young emerge through a rupture in the body wall near the anus. Depth: less than 7 m Characteristics: The species can reach 10 cm, but most individuals are less than half that size. Twelve pinnate tentacles with webbed bases surround the mouth of full-grown speciments. Each tentacle stalk has up to 20 pairs of lateral digits, each with a pair of dark pigment spots on the inner surface, near the mouth. Individuals vary from grayish green to reddish brown, with contrasting white patches of miliary granules clumped just beneath the epidermis. Young individuals are usually more pale and transparent than adults. |