Wild Harris

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Most sea cucumbers in Harris waters are found on rocky seabeds. However there is a white species that is only found in coarse sand or gravel. With its body buried in the sand, the branched tentacles wave about to catch food particles passing in the current; these are then transferred to the centrally located mouth.

White Sea Cucumber & Maerl    (Photo: Paul Tyler)

This white sea cucumber is only found on coarse sand or gravel. It uses its branching tentacles to catch its food. The pink knobbly stuff scattered around it is maerl, a kind of hard chalky seaweed. 

Thyone- White Sea Cucumber    (Photo: Paul Tyler)

A closeup of the white sea cucumber's tentacles. When it catches something edible the tentacle is pushed into the central mouth where the food is sucked off it. 

by Paul Tyler

Link to Shore Animals

Link to Soft Seabed Animals