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| Sea cucumber Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| A sea cucumber (Actinopyga echinites), displaying its feeding tentacles and tube feet | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Subphylum: | Echinozoa |
| Class: | Holothuroidea Blainville, 1834 |
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Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (/ˌhɒləˌθjʊəˈrɔɪdiə, ˌhoʊlə-/ HOL-ə-thyuu-ROY-dee-ə, HOH-lə-). They are benthic marine animals found on the sea floor worldwide, and the number of known holothuroid species worldwide is about 1,786,[1] with the greatest number being in the Asia–Pacific region.[2] Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as detritivores who help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter, after which microbes can continue the decomposition process.[2]
Sea cucumbers have a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad, are named for their overall resemblance to the fruit of the cucumber plant. Like all echinoderms, sea cucumbers have a calcified dermal endoskeleton, which is usually reduced to isolated microscopic ossicles (or sclerietes) joined by connective tissue. In some species these can sometimes be enlarged to flattened plates, forming an armoured cuticle. In some abyssal or pelagic species such as Pelagothuria natatrix (order Elasipodida, family Pelagothuriidae), the skeleton is absent and there is no calcareous ring.[3]
Many species of sea cucumbers are foraged as food by humans, and some species are cultivated in aquaculture systems. They are considered a delicacy seafood, especially in Asian cuisines, and the harvested product is variously referred to as trepang, namako, bêche-de-mer, or balate.
- ^ Paulay, G. (2014). "Holothuroidea". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ^ a b Du, H.; Bao, Z.; Hou, R.; Wang, S.; Su, H.; et al. (2012). "Transcriptome Sequencing and Characterization for the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867)". PLOS One. 7 (3): e33311. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...733311D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033311. PMC 3299772. PMID 22428017.
- ^ Reich, Mike (30–31 January 2006). Lefebvre, B.; David, B.; Nardin, E.; Poty, E. (eds.). "Cambrian holothurians? – The early fossil record and evolution of Holothuroidea" (PDF). Journées Georges Ubaghs: 36–37. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2009.
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