Genus Actinopyga
The genus Actinopyga contains medium to large-sized sea cucumbers with stout, thick and very firm bodies (Genus Actinopyga[/l]). Their [l][m]Glossary[/m][r]Tegument[/r]tegument is usually smooth, their cuvierian tubules branched, not ejected, and they usually bear 20 tentacles. Species are characterized by the psosession of 5 calcified papillae called anal teeth. Spicules are branched rods. Actinopyga are mostly exposed on rubble, sand or seagrass of outer coral reef flats or on shallow slopes.
Remarks: The species in this genus are most easily distinguished by their colour and form when alive; spicules may be numerous or rare. Both A. mauritiana and A. lecanora have mottled colours, though the former has 25 or more tentacles and the latter has a characteristically pale peri-anal region. Colour, tegument and rod size distinguish the two bold coloured species.
Species in this genus:
Actinopyga echinites (Jaeger, 1833)
Actinopyga lecanora (Jaeger, 1833)
Actinopyga mauritiana (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833)
Actinopyga miliaris (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833)