A new kind of sea cucumber (holothurian) has been discovered at the Nha Trang beach in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

The Aquaculture Research Institute No.3 in Nha Trang said the new holothurian was found during a recent survey of aquatic resources in the nation’s coastal regions. They said the creature’s scientific name was actinopyga caerulea samyn or Blue Sea Cucumber.

The specimen found was large with a mouth that has 15-18 tentacles, scientists said. The institute is keeping it for further research.

Earlier, the creature was found in Indonesia in 2006, then in Caledonia, the Philippines and Thailand.