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Cucumaria piperata (Stimpson, 1864)
Peppered Sea Cucumber
Family: Cucumariidae
Extracted from Sea Cucumbers of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Puget Sound by Philip Lambert.
Introduction to the Echinoderms of BC

Photograph

© Derek Holzapfel     (Photo ID #14724)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Cucumaria piperata in British Columbia in British Columbia

Illustration

Click on the image below to view an expanded illustration for this taxon. If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., two subspecies may be illustrated) then links to the separate images will be provided below.



Species Information

Cucumaria piperata is similar in body form to Cucumaria miniata, but smaller (up to 12 cm long). It is creamy white, or slightly yellowish, with a variable number of black or dark brown spots. The spots may cover the body, but are concentrated at the anterior end and on the 10 equal-sized tentacles. The body has five double rows of retractile tube feet, and the skin is smooth.

Skin ossicles: tapered perforated plates with spiny margins.

Similar Species

Cucumaria piperata may be confused with Pseudocnus lubricus. One form of P. lubricus is yellowish white, with fine peppery spots on the dorsal side, and is shorter than 5 cm. Formerly, the speckled form of P. lubricus was identified as Cucumaria fisheri astigmata or Pseudocnus astigmatus; but these names are synonymous with Pseudocnus lubricus - formerly Cucumaria lubrica (Arndt et al. 1996).

Biology

Etymology

piperata = peppered
Biology

Cucumaria piperata is a suspension feeder. The tentacles are less robust than Cucumaria miniata and held closer to the substratum. Because of this feeding position and the mottled colour, C. piperata is more cryptic.

Spawning is similar to C. miniata and occurs from mid March until late April. The olive green eggs (mean diameter 532 μm) are packed into pellets which float when first released. The non-feeding larva is difficult to distinguish from that of C. miniata. Juveniles settle under rocks with adults of C. piperata and C. miniata in July.

No parasitic gastropods are reported in C. piperata. The body wall of C. piperata is toxic to the gunnels, Pholis and Apodichthys.

Habitat


Cucumaria piperata is common in cobble fields, but less abundant than Cucumaria miniata. This species is found in a variety of habitats - firm mud, shell-gravel or hard surfaces that are exposed to current. It is usually buried or under rocks, but can also be found lying on the surface.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Cucumaria piperata H. L. Clark (1901a)
Pentacta piperatus Stimpson

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

General References

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