Beaded Sea Cucumber
| Name: | Beaded Sea Cucumber |
| Scientific Name: | Euapta lappa |
| Family: | Sea Cucumbers |
| Taxonomic: | Synaptidae |
| ID Group: | Sea Stars, Urchins, Cucumbers |
| Size: | up to 3 ft. |
| Depth Range: | In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
The Beaded Sea Cucumber has a long, soft body that resembles a worm. Its skin is covered with bead-like rings, giving it a textured appearance. The body color is often a mix of tan, brown, or gray, and can have stripes or blotches along its length. At one end, it has a ring of feather-like feeding tentacles surrounding its mouth.
This Sea Cucumber is usually found alone in sandy areas among rubble. During the day it hides under rocks or debris to avoid predators. At night, it uses its feather-like tentacles to sweep up tiny food particles from the sea floor.