Psolus phantapus

Description

Psolus phantapus is a sea cucumber of up to 20 cm in length. Its cylindrical body erect at each ends in a U-shape, is partially buried in sand or mud among stony bottoms. The posterior side, at the end of which is the anus, is usually hidden under the substratum. The central part, which is also hidden, forms a rectangular sole, strenghten by spicules. Many tube feet concentrate there, a double row on each side and down the middle, so that the brown psolus may attached to stones. Its body is yellowish brown to dark brown and its thick skin is covered with numerous small scales. The only visible part is the anterior side with the introvert and the crown of 10 bushy tentacles that surounds the mouth. The tentacles are pinkish white with orange patches. They are covered with mucus on which micro-organisms stick ; then tentacles are one after the other put inside the mouth to collect food. The introvert is pinkish white with pink dots that extend toward the mouth. Its skin is smooth and it bears five rows of tube feet regularly spaced.

Distribution

Psolus phantapus is found from 5 to 400 m deep in the Atlantic Ocean from the Celtic Sea (South Ireland) up to Norway, in the North Sea and up to the Arctic. In the North-West Atlantic, from Canada to Cape Cod, (North-East coasts of the USA).

How to cite this page

Bay-Nouailhat A., August 2008, Description of Psolus phantapus, [On line] https://european-marine-life.org/30/psolus-phantapus.php, consulted on 2024 April 26.