Diet

• Deposit feeder that processes surface sediments with its oral tentacles, extracting organic detritus, microorganisms, and other edible particles.

• By consuming and reworking sediment, it contributes to the recycling of organic material on the seafloor.

Range

• Tropical eastern Pacific species occurring from Mexico and Panama southward to the Pacific coast of Colombia.

• It occurs in the Zihuatanejo Bay area, where it has been photographed in shallow rocky reef habitat.

Habitat

• Associated primarily with rocky bottoms and rocky reefs from the intertidal zone to about 15 metres.

• Individuals may shelter beneath medium-sized rocks or occur among rocky reef structure.

• Unlike some closely related sea cucumbers that favour sand beneath rocks, H. viridiaurantia is particularly associated with rocky substrate.

Description

• Medium-sized sea cucumber with a relatively short, stout, cylindrical body that tapers towards the posterior end.

• The body is typically olive-green with conspicuous white to orange papillae and tentacles.

• Has 20 large, shield-shaped oral tentacles with deep indentations.

• The dorsal surface has scattered, long, slender conical papillae, with a suggestion of four longitudinal rows.

• The underside is densely covered with large, thick, cylindrical tube feet.

• The body wall contains distinctive large buttons, while the tentacles contain unusually large, thick and rough rods that help distinguish it from related species.