Sea Cucumber

Taxonomy:
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Aspidochirota Family: Stichopodidae

Distribution
Common and widespread along BC coast.

Habitat
Most common on bedrock substrate in areas with little or no current where detritus accumulates; also live on gravel, sand or mud, often in eelgrass beds; planktonic larvae dispersed by currents; settled larvae and juveniles hide in dense mats of filamentous red algae, algae holdfasts, under rocks or in rock crevices; spawning occurs in shallow water, less than 16 m depth.

Tidal Elevation
From extreme low tide level in intertidal to 90 m subtidal depth.

Growth Rate
Slow; 5 to 20 mm at 1 yr; 5-6 yr to reach sexual maturity; maximum size is 500 mm and lives to over 8 yr.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada