Pelagothuria natatrix
| Pelagothuria natatrix | |
|---|---|
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| Pelagothuria natatrix | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroidea |
| Subclass: | Aspidochirotacea |
| Order: | Elasipodida |
| Family: | Pelagothuriidae |
| Genus: | Pelagothuria Ludwig, 1893 |
| Species: | Pelagothuria natatrix Ludwig, 1893 |
Pelagothuria natatrix is a species of sea cucumber, in the family Pelagothuriidae (and the only species in the genus Pelagothuria). It may be the strangest species of its kind, as it looks like a jellyfish and is the only pelagic echinoderm known to date.[1]
Characteristics
This sea cucumber is somewhat unusual in appearance in comparison with other sea cucumbers (and even within its family), as it looks more like a jellyfish with its large umbrella-like swimming structure, its small tapered body and its swimming position with the mouth on top. The mouth is surrounded by feeding tentacles like any sea cucumber, and the veil can be retracted like jellyfishes do. It reaches around 16 cm in total diameter.[1]
This species constitutes the only true pelagic holothurian (and even echinoderm) known to date.[1]
Habitat and repartition
This sea cucumber is extremely rare, but its geographic range seems very wide: it has been collected in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, between 596 and 6776m of depth.[1]
References
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Wikispecies has information related to: Pelagothuria natatrix |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pelagothuria natatrix. |
- 1 2 3 4 Mah, Christopher (September 18, 2012). "Deep-Sea Swimming Sea Cucumbers and the "most bizarre holothurian species in existence"!". The Echinoblog.