species: Stichopus vastus in taxonomy (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Animalia > Echinodermata > Echinozoa > Holothuroidea > Aspidochirotida > Stichopodidae > Stichopus > Stichopus vastus (gallery)
Stichopus vastus


©Lyle Vail: Stichopus vastus at about 22 metres off North Point.

©Anne Hoggett: Stichopus vastus in the Lizard Island lagoon.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Holothuroidea
Order Aspidochirotida
Family Stichopodidae
Genus Stichopus
Species Stichopus vastus

Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

A large, solid, yellow/brown holothurian with low rounded papillae and large indentations in the body wall with radiating creases.

Size

  • Up to 30 cm (length)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Stichopus vastus is found in the lagoon and in deeper water on the exposed side of the island group.

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Purcell, S.W., Y. Samyn and C. Conand (2012). Commercially important sea cucumbers of the world 150 pp., 30 pl. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

Other references

  • Byrne, M., F. Rowe and S. Uthicke (2010). Molecular taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution in the family Stichopodidae (Aspidochirota: Holothuroidea) based on COI and 16S mitochondrial DNA, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, doi: 10.1016: jymev201004013. LIRS catalog number 1292.
  • Hemingson, C.R. and D.R. Bellwood (2020). Greater multihabitat use in Caribbean fishes when compared to their Great Barrier Reef counterparts. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 239: 106748. LIRS catalog number 2418.
  • View all references