Leptopentacta elongata (Düben & Koren, 1845)

Leptopentacta elongata

Description: A long tapering body and small white sparsely-branched tentacles are the distinctive features of this sea cucumber. The thin body has a long pointed tail and often lies curved in the sediment in a U-shape. The brown body bears five distinct rows of tube-feet. There are spicules in three layers,large irregular flat plates with numerous holes, smaller round plates with holes and small basket-shaped spicules nearest the surface. Length about 10cm, diameter 1cm or less.

Habitat: Lives buried in muddy sand or mud with only the tentacles visible. Can be common in shallow water with Virgularia mirabilis.

Distribution: Found all round the British Isles.

Similar Species: No other species have the characteristically shaped body.

Key Identification Features:

• 10 small sparsely branched tentacles.
• Buried in muddy sediment.
• Elongate thin tapering body.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database