Nature Field Guide
Dusky Sea Cucumber
- Spanish name
- Pepino de mar
- Scientific name
- Holothuria fuscocinerea
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
It does not need a star-shaped outline to be related to sea stars. Pico and Tati meet a different kind of echinoderm.
Species overview
About the Dusky Sea Cucumber
Holothuria fuscocinerea is a sea cucumber: a marine echinoderm with an elongated body instead of spreading arms. It can be easy to overlook against the seabed. Learning its scientific name helps separate it from other sea cucumbers that may share a similar general shape.
Identification
Key Features of the Dusky Sea Cucumber
An elongated body resting on the seabed
No radiating arms like a sea star
Photograph the animal in place for expert comparison
Habitat & range
Suitable underwater coastal habitat. Use a permitted guided snorkeling or viewing activity appropriate to your family; do not enter the sea just to find this animal.
Local observations
Documented in Guanacaste. Region tags represent documented locations, not an exhaustive range or a promise of occurrence at every beach. Additional regional assignments require locality evidence.
When to observe
Visibility depends on the site, conditions and the animal. Ask a local guide about an appropriate visit; no fixed encounter season is promised.
Conservation & care
Watch without touching, lifting, feeding or collecting. Keep fingers and equipment away from spines and other surface structures. Leave the animal submerged and its habitat undisturbed.
Observation activity
Sort drawings of a sea star, an urchin and a sea cucumber by body shape. Then learn what larger animal group they share.