Pelagothuriidae is a family of deep-sea swimming
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 are somewhat unusual in appearance, in comparison with other sea cucumbers, having numerous appendages, including conical papillae and leaf-like tentacles. Most of them are benthopelagic, which means that they are able to swim for a time from the bottom : the species ''
Pelagothuria natatrix'' is the only true pelagic holothurian (and echinoderm, to date) ; it looks like a jellyfish. Most members of the order inhabit deep-sea environments, like ''
Enypniastes''.
Classification
Family: Pelagothuriidae
* genus ''
Enypniastes''
Théel, 1882
* genus ''
Pelagothuria''
Ludwig, 1893
References
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Notes
Echinoderm families
{{Holothuroidea-stub