Ocnus lacteus - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Ocnus lacteus (Forbes & Goodsir, 1839)

Description: A small sea cucumber with white skin and tube-feet in 5 zigzag rows. There are 10 sparsely branched white tentacles. The spicules are numerous and each one is knobbly with 4 holes. There is a superficial layer of smaller star-shaped cup spicules. Usually only 1cm long, occasionally up to 4 cm.

Habitat: This is an epifaunal species living amongst shells and other sessile animals.

Distribution: Found on the south, west and north-east coasts of the British Isles.

Similar Species: Has been confused with the small form of Ocnus planci in the past.

Key Identification Features:

Small size, white in colour.
Tube-feet in 5 zigzag rows.
10 small white tentacles.
Large spicules with knobs and 4 holes.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map: download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB4840

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