SEA CUCUMBER (HOLOTHUROIDEA)
Taxonomic Classification
Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Holothuroidea Order: Aspidochirotida Family: Holothuriidae Genus: Holothuria Species: Holothuria Pardalis |
Facts
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How they Move (considering they don't have a lot of muscle)
- Some species have evolved to a "benthopelagic" behavior: their body is nearly the density as the water around them.
- This allows them to make long jumps (up to 3,300 ft high), before falling slowly back to the ocean floor.
- They posses both a water vascular system and a haemal system, that provides hydraulic pressure to the tentacles and tube feet allowing them to move.
- Most posses 5 rows of tube feet (called podia)
- They form in large heards that move across the bathygraphic features of the ocean.
- Paelopatides confundens, is made up of a tough gelatinous tissue with unique properties that make them able to control their own buoyancy, making it possible to either live on the ocean floor, or to actively swim or float in order to move to new locations.
Internal Anatomy
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10. Cloaca Muscles
11. Cloaca 12. Dorsal Mesentery 13. Polisan Vesicle 14. Esophagus 15. Internal Madrepore |
External Anatomy
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