Sea Cucumber (Or Sea Pickle?)

The sea cucumber is part of the class Holothuroidea, and is one of 1,200 species of marine invertebrates that constitute a class within the phylum Echinodermata. The sea cucumber has a soft cylindrical body, ranging from 2 to 200 centimeters long and 1 to 20 centimeters thick. They are typically a dull/dark color and resemble a cucumber well. The internal skeleton of the sea cucumber is reduced to several tiny calcareous structures, called ossicles, in the skin. Most species of the sea cucumber have five rows of tube feet extending from the mouth to the anus. The anus is used for respiration and discharging wastes. Many sea cucumbers can expel their internal organs through the anus and grow new ones. This may be a device for escaping a predator, or for more physiological reasons. Some species also expel specialized sticky filaments that confused predators/prey. There are 10 or more tentacles surrounding the mouth that are used for taking food or burrowing. It eats mud containing nutrients or small aquatic animals.

Sea cucumbers are found in all oceans, typically in shallow water but sometimes they are found in depths of thousands of meters. They are most commonly found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific ocean. The 80-100 species of sea cucumber of the genus Holothuria are very abundant on coral reefs.

Sea cucumbers are harvested to produce several products that consist of medicines, dietary supplements, shampoo and toothpaste. The dried outer wall of the animal is considered to be the most valuable. It is a delicacy throughout Asia and the high demand for it has reduced the stocks of many sea cucumber species across the world.

I am tempted to try this supposed "delicacy" because it sounds quite interesting. I also think all these crazy facts about sea cucumbers are fascinating and wacky!

                            The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Sea Cucumber." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 27 Feb. 2017. Web. 19 June 2017.