Facts about Sea Cucumbers
- 07
Certain sea cucumber species can eject sticky filaments called Cuverian tubules from their anus to entangle and incapacitate predators within seconds.
- 06
Oxygen absorption in sea cucumbers occurs through their respiratory tree, a branching organ system that extracts dissolved oxygen directly from water pumped into their body cavity.
- 05
Most commercial sea cucumber species belong to the genus Holothurian and are harvested extensively in Asian markets, where dried specimens can sell for up to $3,000 per kilogram due to traditional medicinal demand.
- 04
Some sea cucumber species can live over 10 years in the ocean, with certain deep-sea varieties potentially reaching ages of 35 years or more.
- 03
A sea cucumber's tube feet, numbering in the thousands across its body, function as both locomotion and sensory organs for detecting food particles and chemical signals.
- 02
The body wall of sea cucumbers contains collagen fibers that can rapidly change stiffness within seconds, allowing them to shift from rigid to liquid-like states for squeezing through crevices.
- 01
When threatened, sea cucumbers can expel their internal organs through their anus, regrowing them within several weeks.