Aslia lefevrei is a sea-cucumber of up to 15 cm long but only its bushy
tentacles of 5 cm long are visible emerging from rock rifts. The cylindrical body is thus hidden and
protected from
predators. Body and tentacles are whitish to brownish. Food particles stick on the tentacles which are,
one after the other, brought into the mouth and licked to take off the food. It can be solitary but
generally lives in groups.
It is found from surface to 20 m deep in the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel
and the Mediterranean Sea.
Phylum Echinodermata, class Holothurioidea, order Dentrochirotida, family Cucumariidae, Aslia lefevrei (Barrois, 1882).
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Photographs: © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with author's kind permission.
Aslia lefevrei, Bay of Concarneau, South-Brittany, West of France. Depth 8 meters.
Text: Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2005-2008.
Translation: Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2008.
