Elpidiidae is a family of deep-sea
sea cucumber
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class (biology), class Holothuroidea ( ). They are benthic marine animals found on the sea floor worldwide, and the number of known holothuroid species worldwide is about 1,786, with the greatest number be ...
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
Kolga () is a small borough () in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County, in northern Estonia, on the territory of Lahemaa National Park. It has a population of 490 ().
Kolga is best known for its classicist
Classics, also classical studies or Anci ...
'' Danielssen & Koren, 1879
*'' Peniagone'' Théel, 1882
*'' Penilpidia'' Gebruk, 1988
*'' Protelpidia'' Gebruk, 1983
*'' Psychrelpidia'' Hérouard, 1923
*'' Psychroplanes'' Gebruk, 1988
*'' Rhipidothuria'' Hérouard, 1901
*''Scotoplanes
''Scotoplanes'' is a genus of deep-sea sea cucumbers of the family Elpidiidae. Its species are commonly known as sea pigs.
Locomotion
Members of the Elpidiidae have particularly enlarged tube "feet" that have taken on a leg-like appearance, u ...
'' Théel, 1882
Image:Unidentified Elasipodida.jpg, Probable ''Amperima sp.'' ( deep off Hawaii)
Image:Sjögurkan Elpidia glacialis, Nordisk familjebok.png, ''Elpidia glacialis
''Elpidia glacialis'' is a species of Holothuroidea, sea cucumber in the Family (biology), family Elpidiidae. It is found at abyssal depths in the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It was first described in ...
''
Image:Scotoplanes globosa.jpg, '' Scotoplanes globosa''
References
Echinoderm families
{{Holothuroidea-stub