Hobbies And Interests
Identification
The sea cucumber belongs to a class of organisms called Holothuroidea. Holothuroidea belong to the phylum of Echinodermata, along with starfish, sand dollars and sea urchins. They are some of the simplest and oldest animals in existence in terms of anatomy and evolution. Sea cucumbers are invertebrates that have a collagenous endoskeleton surrounded by gelatinous flesh. They do not have actual brains, only a ring of neural material around the cloaca. They move using the tube feet (tiny, muscular projections) and tentacles on the underside of their bodies.
Limb Regeneration
Though all organisms, even humans, possess some regenerative ability, animals such as the sea cucumber are among several organisms that can regrow damaged or missing limbs. If one of the sea cucumbers' tentacles gets torn or eaten off, it can regrow another one in a few months (depending on how old the animal is). Other animals that can regrow limbs include worms, salamanders, crustaceans and some lizards.
Causes
There are a few reasons why a sea cucumber will lose its tentacles. A sea cucumber will voluntarily sacrifice one of its limbs in order to escape predators. The animal can also break off its limbs in order to free itself if one gets stuck in the crevice off an undersea rock. Additionally, illness or bacterial infection can spread to the limbs and cause them to rot off.
Sea Cucumbers as Pets
Some people keep sea cucumbers as pets or exhibits in saltwater aquariums. If your sea cucumber's tentacles appear damaged or reddened with skin peeling off, it is likely that the animal is diseased. You should consult a veterinarian immediately.