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 Holothuroidea - Sea Cucumbers
The class Holothuroidea includes the sea cucumbers of which
there are about 150 living species.
The sea cucumber has a series of branched feeding tentacles
around the mouth that aid in deposit feeding. These feathery
tentacles sift sediment for organic matter.
Parastichopus californicus
Parastichopus parvimensis
Cucumbers have the distasteful habit of extruding their intestines
and its contents when they perceive a threat known as evisceration.
When alarmed, some species of sea cucumbers can expel part or
all of their digestive tract or other organs (gonads, respiratory
tree, etc.) through their anus. This is done to confuse the predator
so the sea cucumber can escape. Some species can discharge an
extremely sticky organ called the Cuverian tubules. The sea cucumber
is able to regenerate these organs.
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