Holothuria mexicana (donkey dong sea cucumber) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 1

Description:

Description: Holothuria mexicana Ludwig, 1875 - donkey dung sea cucumber. Holothurians (sea cucumbers) are bizarre animals. They lack the obvious pentaradial symmetry of other echinoderms (starfish, sand dollars, etc.). They have soft, elongated, flexible bodies. Their skeletons consist of numerous, tiny, calcareous sclerites embedded in the body wall or covering the outer surface of the body. In general, sea cucumbers are benthic and vagrant, slowly moving around on the seafloor. They use mucus to collect organic debris from the seafloor and then consume the debris-covered mucus. Some holothurians can discharge internal organs and toxins from their posterior in response to potential predators. Rough handling of sea cucumbers by people can result in the same discharge behavior. The light-colored blades covering this specimen are dead turtle grass (Thalassia). The dark brown-colored twiggy structures are Sargassum brown algae. Classification: Animalia, Echinodermata, Holothuroidea, Aspidochirotida, Holothuriidae Locality: Pigeon Creek estuary, southeastern San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas. Date: 14 March 2013, 14:37. Source: Holothuria mexicana (donkey dong sea cucumber) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 1. Author: James St. John.