A beach in the United States was invaded by thousands of sea cucumbers

Thousands of sea cucumbers appeared on the beach in the coastal town of Seaside, Oregon, due to a combination of strong waves and low tide.

These pinkish, partially translucent, gelatinous creatures are known as skin-breathing sea cucumbers. They typically bury themselves in the sand along the low tide line and beyond. But on Tuesday they were scattered along more than 2 miles of Seaside Beach, said Tiffany Boothe, assistant manager of the Seaside Aquarium.

“They literally cover the tide line,” Boothe said. They are approximately 1.3 centimeters long, but can grow up to about 15 centimeters.

They are not able to return to their natural habitat on their own, so they will dry out and die (AP).

The phenomenon can occur whenever wave and tide conditions match, which happens a few times a year or once every few years. Sometimes a few are scattered here and there on the shore, but in this latest episode there were large groupings on the beach.

They will die dry on the beach

Sea cucumbers are not capable of returning to their natural habitat on their own, so they will dry up and dieBoothe explained. They will provide nutrients for beachhoppers, sand fleas and other invertebrates that live along the tide line and will feed on them. Birds don’t eat them.

What’s left will probably dry quickly and mix with the sand. Boothe estimates they will be gone by this Thursday.

They are gelatinous, partially translucent, pinkish creatures that breathe through the skin (AP).

The scientific name of these cucumbers is Leptosynapta clarki. They live along the coast from northern California to the Gulf of Alaska.

Seaside is about 129 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon.

AP Agency.

GML