About Cucumaria frondosa (Gunnerus, 1767)
This species of sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa, typically reaches around 20 cm (8 in) in length when fully grown. It has ten branched oral tentacles that range in color from orange to black. The body has a football shape, with leathery skin that ranges in color from yellowish white to dark brownish-black, and is covered by five rows of retractile tube feet. Three of these rows of tube feet are located on the underside of the body, while the rows on the upper surface are often reduced in size. Adult C. frondosa have a reduced number of spicules, which are skeletal structures shaped like rounded plates with many holes. The sexes of this species can be distinguished by the shape of the gonopore, which is located under the crown of oral tentacles: females have a conspicuous tube-shaped gonopore, while males have a conspicuous heart-shaped gonopore. Juvenile C. frondosa measure between about 1 mm and 6 mm long, and are translucent orange and pink. This species inhabits rocks, crevices, or low-tide Arctic water. It is known to cover large areas of the seabed at depths of less than 30 meters (100 ft).
