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Leopard Sea Cucumber
Bohadschia argus
Information
Range Western Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Madagascar, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka to Malaysia and the South Pacific Islands. It is found on coral reefs and on exposed, sandy areas of the seabed at depths of between 10 feet (3.0 m) and 120 feet (37 m).
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Holothuroidea
Order Aspidochirotida
Family Holothuriidae
Genus Bohadschia
Species B. argus

The Leopard sea ucumber, (Bohadschia argus), is a species of marine invertebrate in the family Holothuriidae. It is the type species of the genus Bohadschia; Jaeger, 1833.

Description[]

The Leopard sea cucumber is sausage-shaped with a smooth, tough, leathery skin and can grow to 2 feet (0.61 m) in length. It is a greyish-brown colour, paler below, with distinctive dark eye-spots surrounded by white haloes. There are several rows of tube feet on the underside. Surrounding the mouth at the anterior end is a ring of paddle-shaped, black tentacles fringed with white. The anus, at the posterior end, has cuvierian tubules situated at its base which are readily ejected as sticky threads if the animal is disturbed or handled. These contain toxins which deter predators and are irritating to human skin.

Distribution and Habitat[]

The Leopard sea cucumber is found in the Western Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Madagascar, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka to Malaysia and the South Pacific Islands. It is found on coral reefs and on exposed, sandy areas of the seabed at depths of between 10 feet (3.0 m) and 120 feet (37 m).

Biology[]

Leopard sea cucumber is an omnivore. As it moves across the seabed, it sweeps sand grains and detritus into its mouth using its sticky tentacles. It obtains some nourishment from the biofilm that coats the grains.

Ecology[]

800px-Periclimenes imperator (Emperor shrimp) on Bohadschia argus (Sea cucumber)

emperor shrimp on leopard sea cucumber

Fish of the species, the star pearlfish are sometimes found living in the coelomic cavity of the leopard sea cucumber; the fish enter through the sea cucumber, either going in head first or more frequently tail first. In a study in the Banda Islands in the South Moluccan Sea, 15 individual fish were found to be inhabiting the body of one sea cucumber 40 centimeters (16 in) in length.

The small emperor shrimp is often associated with the leopard sea cucumber and may help keep it clear of ectoparasites.

Uses[]

A new triterpene glycoside, Arguside A, has been extracted from the tissues of the leopard sea cucumber. This compound appears to exhibit cytotoxicity against several different types of human tumour cells.

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