Holothurioids (species: Stichopus vastus) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Echinodermata > Echinozoa > Holothuroidea > Aspidochirotida > Stichopodidae > Stichopus > Stichopus vastus (gallery)
Stichopus vastus
Holothurioids


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

©Anne: 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
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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: Holothurioids (Stichopus vastus)

Distribution and habitat preferences

Stichopus vastus has been found only on the northern side of Lizard Island in water deeper than 20 m on soft bottom with Halimeda.

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.
  • Byrne Uthicke, S.M. and C. Conand (2010). Genetic barcoding of commercial beche-de-mer species (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), Molecular Ecology Resources, 10: 634-646. LIRS catalog number 1321.