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Sea cucumbers are typically 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) in length, although the smallest known species are just 3 mm (0.12 in) long, and the largest can reach 3 meters (10 ft). The body ranges from almost spherical to worm-like, and lacks the arms found in many other echinoderms, such as starfish. The anterior end of the animal, containing the ...
Aquaculture means the sea cucumbers are farmed in contained areas where they can be cultured in a controlled manner. In China, sea cucumbers are cultured, along with prawns and some fish species, in integrated multi-trophic systems. In these systems, the sea cucumbers feed on the waste and feces from the other species.
Enypniastes [a] is a genus of deep-sea sea cucumber.It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Enypniastes eximia.Due to its unique appearance, the species has been dubbed the headless chicken fish, headless chicken monster, and the Spanish dancer.
Urechis unicinctus, known as the fat innkeeper worm or penis fish, [3] [4] is a species of marine spoon worm in East Asia. It is found in Bohai Gulf of China and off the Korean and Hokkaido coasts. [4] It is not to be confused with a closely related species, Urechis caupo, which occurs on the western coast of North America and shares common ...
In a commensal arrangement, Parastichopus regalis is often host to the pearlfish Carapus acus, which enters the sea cucumber's respiratory tree via its anus. The fish lives inside the sea cucumber during the day, emerging into the open water at night to feed. Two fish may occupy a single host, and a pair have been known to breed inside their ...
The tentacles are particularly vulnerable to predation by fish, but if they taste nasty, that enables the sea cucumber to spend a greater proportion of its time feeding, rather than having to keep retracting its tentacles whenever a fish approaches. [6] There are also some cup-shaped structures on the inside of the tentacles near the stem.
Juvenile fish may nibble the reproductive organs or the gills of their host; this causes little damage because sea cucumbers have great regenerative powers. Older fish are nocturnal, emerging from their host and feeding on small crustaceans, worms, and fish fry, before returning to their hosts. [4]
Like other sea cucumbers, the tissues contain saponins which are distasteful and toxic to fish, causing haemolysis of the red blood cells, which can be fatal. The skin periodically flakes off in little shreds, and fish can sometimes be seen nibbling these. This desquamation may be a method for the sea cucumber to rid itself of metabolic waste. [3]