Elpidiidae is a family of deep-sea
sea cucumber
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (). They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothuria ...
s.
They have a translucent body with long and stout podia acting like legs. The mouth is surrounded by thick and short oral tentacles, and the dorsal part often shows pairs of elongated podia as well, pointing upwards. Some species can also show swimming appendages on top of the mouth. Sea pigs live in the darkest parts of the ocean. When introduced to warm waters, their bodies disintegrate, making them vulnerable to sudden heat changes.
Genera
The following genera are recognised in the family Elpidiidae:
[
*'' Achlyonice'' Théel, 1879
*'' Amperima'' Pawson, 1965
*'' Ellipinion'' Hérouard, 1923
*'' Elpidia'' Théel, 1876
*'' Irpa'' Danielssen & Koren, 1878
*'']Kolga
Kolga is a small borough ( et, alevik) in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County, in northern Estonia, on the territory of Lahemaa National Park. It has a population of 490 ().
Kolga is best known for its classicist manor.
Wrestler Aleksander Aberg
Al ...
'' Danielssen & Koren, 1879
*'' Peniagone'' Théel, 1882
*'' Penilpidia'' Gebruk, 1988
*'' Protelpidia'' Gebruk, 1983
*'' Psychrelpidia'' Hérouard, 1923
*'' Psychroplanes'' Gebruk, 1988
*'' Rhipidothuria'' Hérouard, 1901
*''Scotoplanes
''Scotoplanes'' is a genus of deep-sea sea cucumbers of the family Elpidiidae. Its species are commonly known as sea pigs.
Locomotion
Members of the Elpidiidae have particularly enlarged tube "feet" that have taken on a leg-like appearance, usi ...
'' Théel, 1882
Image:Unidentified Elasipodida.jpg, Probable ''Amperima sp.'' ( deep off Hawaii)
Image:Sjögurkan Elpidia glacialis, Nordisk familjebok.png, '' Elpidia glacialis''
Image:Scotoplanes globosa.jpg, ''Scotoplanes globosa
''Scotoplanes globosa,'' commonly known as the sea pig, is a species of sea cucumber that lives in the deep sea. It was first described by Hjalmar Théel, a Swedish scientist. ''Scotoplanes globosa'', along with numerous other sea cucumbers we ...
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References
Echinoderm families
{{Holothuroidea-stub