They're shaped like cucumbers (which explains their name), and they don't have a brain. But sea cucumbers have definitely not vegged out. These creatures are actually complex animals that move around on hydraulic feet, catch food in sticky tentacles, breath through theirs butts and can even spit out poison intestines to sting enemies. Their size varies from just an inch to more than six feet in length.
Moving Day: Different sea cucumbers move around in different ways. Many species walk along the ocean floor on hundreds of tiny tube-feet, like those found on sea stars. Others "swim" by flexing their bodies in contraction-like motions.
Chitlin' Time: If disturbed by enemies, some sea cucumbers can release and shoot out their stringy, sticky intestines. These are laced with toxins that cause painful stinging if they touch bare skin. The intestines grow back inside the sea cucumber.
Sea Smart[]
"Herds" of sea cucumbers can be found feeding together on coral reefs.
Sea cucumbers are scavengers in the ocean, eating small pieces of dead plants and animals (called detritus) that float in the water. Many species have sticky tentacles around their mouths, which grab the food and pass it to the mouth. To make sure they get enough to eat, sea cucumbers-though brainless-are smart enough to face into currents so plenty of detritus comes their way. They also will sift through sand and loose rocks to pick up any food that might have fallen to the ocean floor.
Spike: Some sea cucumber species have spikes growing from their bodies. They can't hurt anything, but they deter some enemies because they look like they can stab an attacker. The spikes also help the sea cucumbers blend in with rocks and coral.
Simple Life: Sea cucumbers don't have brains, so it's a mystery how they developed into such complex organisms. Some species will even grow into two new sea cucumbers if they are cut in half.
Not Good For Salads[]
- While snorkeling over Australia's Great Barrier Reef, a man sees what looks like an interesting rock near the coral. He dives down to pick it up, amazed at how light and soft the porous stone is.
- Within seconds, he finds out that it's not a rock at all, but a sea cucumber. The creature shoots out sticky strands, which tangle in the man's hands and sting his skin. Not quite sure what happened, the man returns to the surface in pain.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The knowledge card says Sea Cucumbers. The trading card says Sea Cucumber.
- The sea cucumber featured on the front is possibly a sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus).
- Interestingly, the Trading Card does not have any life points listed on it, meaning that it can't properly be used in some versions of the card game.
- The sea cucumber is featured in Toxic Trouble on Monster Mania 71.