Animal Profiles
Sea cucumbers

Sea cucumber

Holothuroidea

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Sea cucumbers are elongated marine echinoderms with feeding tentacles around the mouth. Different species gather food from sediment or from the surrounding water.

Holothuroidea

Examples of different sea cucumber species.

Diego Delso / Diego Delso · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Marine habitats from shallow coastal water to the deep seafloor; a smaller number of species swim above the bottom.
Habitat
Coast, Open ocean
Diet
Detritivore
Food
Organic detritus, suspended particles and plankton, depending on species.

Classification

Common name
Sea cucumber
Browse group
Sea cucumbers
Scientific name or taxon
Holothuroidea
Taxon rank
class
Source classification
Holothuroidea

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • They are relatives of sea stars and sea urchins.
  • Feeding tentacles surround the mouth.
  • Some species feed on settled organic material.

Habitat and range

Marine habitats from shallow coastal water to the deep seafloor; a smaller number of species swim above the bottom.

Appearance and adaptations

Their soft-looking bodies retain the underlying body organisation of echinoderms. Tentacles around the mouth are modified tube feet.

Diet and behaviour

Many move slowly across sediment, collecting organic particles. Others extend tentacles into moving water to capture suspended food.

Sources

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