Holothuria hilla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Holothuria hilla | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroidea |
| Order: | Holothuriida |
| Family: | Holothuriidae |
| Genus: | Holothuria |
| Subgenus: | Mertensiothuria |
| Species: | H. hilla |
| Binomial name | |
| Holothuria hilla | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Holothuria hilla is a species of sea cucumber in the subgenus Mertensiothuria of the genus Holothuria.[1] Some common names include the contractile sea cucumber, the sand sifting sea cucumber and the tigertail sea cucumber, and in Hawaii it is known as the light spotted sea cucumber. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea.[2]
Holothuria hilla is a cylindrical sea cucumber, tapering slightly at the posterior end. It can grow to a length of about 40 cm (16 in) and a diameter of 5 cm (2 in). The integument is thin, soft and wrinkled. The dorsal surface is covered with longitudinal rows of tube feet modified into thornlike conical papillae with broad bases, sometimes joined in pairs. These are creamy-white, in contrast to the pinkish, golden or brown background colour of the skin. The ventral surface is similar in colour but the papillae are ranged in four or five rows and are longer and yellowish. The mouth is on the underside and is surrounded by a ring of twenty, yellowish peltate tentacles. This species has Cuvierian tubules but does not expel them defensively as do some other species.[2]
