Postcard from the Reef – Hawaiian Spiky Sea Cucumber

These sea cucumbers are well known to divers and can be found in the local guide books. There is no scientific name, the species has never been properly described. An odd state of affairs for a relatively common critter. As for the name? I could come up with a few other common names that seem to describe the appearance. However, naming a species after a pile of doo-doo is not generally acceptable.

Hawaiian Spiky Sea Cucumber
Hawaiian Spiky Sea Cucumber (Stichopus sp.) at 100ft depth off O’oma, the species is well known but undescribed in the literature

Author: Andrew

An electrical engineer, amateur astronomer, and diver, living and working on the island of Hawaiʻi.

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