sea cucumber Cucumariidae sp., possibly Staurocucumis liouvillei

Staurocucumis liouvillei has been collected in Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula and Bouvet Island, Heard Island and South Georgia Island from 60 to 791 meters depth [2,3,5]. S. liouvillei has been collected at sizes up to eight centimeters long [1,5].

Staurocucumis liouvillei lives attached to sponges, gorgonians (as shown here), and large stones [4].

Here's a closer view of sea cucumber Cucumariidae sp., possibly Staurocucumis liouvillei.

NOTE: The gorgonian color differs from above due to the scanning method used to show better surface detail of the sea cucumber.

Taxonomic Note: In earlier literature, it may appear under the genera Cucumaria or Abyssocucumis [1,3,5].

1: S Ekman. Holothurien. Further Zoological Results of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition 1901-1903. Volume 1, Number 6. Stockholm : PA Norstedt & Soner, 1925; 2: Berichte zur Polarforschung 41:1-87, 1988; 3: Tethys 5(4):601-610, 1974; 4: Polar Biology 11(3):145-155, 1991; 5: Memoirs of Museum Victoria 59(2):297–325, 2002

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