Sea cucumbers discovered in the Netherlands for the first time

At least ten sea cucumbers have been discovered at the bottom of the Oosterschelde. It is the first time that the animals have been seen in the Netherlands. They are native to the Mediterranean Sea and along the West African coast, but in recent years, they have also been found in Belgium and Great Britain.

Researchers at the University in Wageningen have called it a remarkable discovery. The sea cucumbers are purple and brown. They can be around 15 centimeters long and around three centimeters wide. The animal extends its tentacles into the water and eats whatever sticks to it.

Researcher Jetze van Zwol does not know how the sea cucumber has ended up in the Netherlands. "although this species has already been seen in Belgian waters. So it could also be a natural distribution". He thinks that the animal is not a threat but an enrichment for other animals in the Oosterschelde. "The specimens we found lived among oysters."

The biologists researched the water between Schouwen-Duiveland and Tholen. They also saw animals that have been present in Dutch coastal waters for several years, such as the brackish water basket shell, the American beach shell, and the smooth beak shell.