Common name : Leopard sea cucumber
Scientific name : Bohadschia argus
Family : Holothuriidae
Native to : Indian and Pacific Oceans
Interesting fact : Sea cucumbers communicate by sending hormone signals through the water.
Conservation status : Least Concern
Shaped like a cucumber, the sea cucumber lives on the sea floor. They have leathery skins and are 10-30 cm long. The endoskeleton below the skin is joined by connective tissues enabling it to squeeze through the smallest of gaps. They discharge a toxic chemical that kills animals in the vicinity. They feed on detritus and help recycle nutrients.
