Pelagothuriidae

Pelagothuriidae is a family of deep-sea swimming sea cucumbers. They are somewhat unusual in appearance, in comparison with other sea cucumbers, having numerous appendages, including conical papillae and leaf-like tentacles. Most of them are benthopelagic, which means that they are able to swim for a time from the bottom : the species Pelagothuria natatrix is the only true pelagic holothurian (and echinoderm, to date) ; it looks like a jellyfish. Most members of the order inhabit deep-sea environments, like Enypniastes.[3]

Pelagothuriidae
Enypniastes eximia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Elasipodida
Family: Pelagothuriidae
Ludwig, 1893[1]
Type genus
Pelagothuria
Ludwig, 1893
Genera
Synonyms[2]
  • Enypniastidae Östergren, 1907
  • Planktothuridae Gilchrist, 1920
  • Planktothuriidae Gilchrist, 1920

Classification

Family: Pelagothuriidae

The only true pelagic echinoderm known to date : Pelagothuria natatrix (here close to the Galapagos).

References
  • Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 995. ISBN 0-03-056747-5.
  • Mah, Christopher (September 18, 2012). "Deep-Sea Swimming Sea Cucumbers and the "most bizarre holothurian species in existence"!". The Echinoblog.

Notes
  1. Ludwig, Herbert (1893). Vorläufiger Bericht über die erbeuteten Holothurien. In: Reports on the Dredging Operations off the West Coast of Central America to the Galapagos, etc., by the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer "Albatross". IV. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College. 24(4): 105-114.
  2. WoRMS (2020). Pelagothuriidae Ludwig, 1893. Accessed at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=123193 on 2020-03-28
  3. Mah, Christopher (September 18, 2012). "Deep-Sea Swimming Sea Cucumbers and the "most bizarre holothurian species in existence"!". The Echinoblog.


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