The orange sea cucumber has ten bushy tentacles which it uses to catch  microscopic drifting animals.    These tentacles are covered by a sticky substance that traps food particles. To eat the food the sea cucumber inserts its tentacles one by one into its mouth  and 'licks' them clean.  After feeding, the animal retracts all its tentacles into its mouth for safe storage.

Sea cucumber tentacles

Close-ups of orange sea cucumber tentacles

Photo by Rick Harbo  1988.

Guide to the Western Seashore.

Hancock House, Surrey, BC

Photo by Bill Austin

Marine Ecology Centre