Elpidiidae is a family of deep-sea
sea cucumber
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (). They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothu ...
s.
They have a translucent body with long and stout podia acting like legs. The mouth is surrounded by thick and short oral tentacles, and the dorsal part often shows pairs of elongated podia as well, pointing upwards. Some species can also show swimming appendages on top of the mouth. Sea pigs live in the darkest parts of the ocean. When introduced to warm waters, their bodies disintegrate, making them vulnerable to sudden heat changes.
Genera
The following genera are recognised in the family Elpidiidae:
[
*'' Achlyonice'' Théel, 1879
*'' Amperima'' Pawson, 1965
*'' Ellipinion'' Hérouard, 1923
*'' Elpidia'' Théel, 1876
*'' Irpa'' Danielssen & Koren, 1878
*'' Kolga'' Danielssen & Koren, 1879
*'' Peniagone'' Théel, 1882
*'' Penilpidia'' Gebruk, 1988
*'' Protelpidia'' Gebruk, 1983
*'' Psychrelpidia'' Hérouard, 1923
*'' Psychroplanes'' Gebruk, 1988
*'' Rhipidothuria'' Hérouard, 1901
*'' Scotoplanes'' Théel, 1882
Image:Unidentified Elasipodida.jpg, Probable ''Amperima sp.'' ( deep off Hawaii)
Image:Sjögurkan Elpidia glacialis, Nordisk familjebok.png, '' Elpidia glacialis''
Image:Scotoplanes globosa.jpg, '' Scotoplanes globosa''
]
References
Echinoderm families
{{Holothuroidea-stub