Sea Cucumber

About the Sea Cucumber

The vacuum cleaners of the ocean, recycling nutrients from sediment. Some species can expel their internal organs as a defense mechanism (evisceration), regenerating them within weeks. When threatened, some shoot sticky white threads called Cuvierian tubules from their anus to entangle predators. They breathe through their anus. Pearlfish live inside sea cucumber anuses for protection. Over 1,700 species exist. They are a luxury food in Chinese cuisine (bche-de-mer) worth up to $3,500 per kg. They are being overharvested worldwide. They can liquefy their body to squeeze through cracks.