Lissothuria nutriens, commonly known as the dwarf sea cucumber or scarlet sea cucumber, is a bright red-orange sea cucumber that can be found in tide pools[1] along much of the California coast.[2]
The dorsal surface is bright red-orange with small white tube feet evenly spread about. The lower surface or foot is pinkish and has rows of white tube feet.[1]: 947 It grows to about 2 cm.[3] Surrounding its mouth, it has 2 small and 8 large pinkish red dendritic tentacles.[1]: 942, 946–947 The flesh surrounding its mouth contains a few plates.[1]: 947
Lissothuria nutriens can be found from Monterey Bay to Southern California,[1]: 946–947 and have been found as far north as Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands.[4]
Lissothuria nutriens can be found clinging to or moving across a rocky substrate or in sandy areas between alga holdfasts from the low intertidal to 20 meters deep.[1]: 946–947 Based on the observations on iNaturalist it can also be found on various kinds of alga.[5]
Lissothuria nutriens extends its sticky, dendritic tentacles[6] to catch plankton.[3] The tentacles then move the captured prey down its branches toward its base and into its mouth.[6] It absorbs additional nutrients that it extracts from mud.[3]
Lissothuria nutriens broods a small number of large eggs by moving them to pits on its dorsal surface.[1]: 947 As a member of the order Dendrochirotida, the eggs have sufficient energy to enable the larvae to complete their development without needing to be fed.[6]
Lissothuria nutriens, commonly known as the dwarf sea cucumber or scarlet sea cucumber, is a bright red-orange sea cucumber that can be found in tide pools along much of the California coast.
