Pelagothuriidae

Pelagothuriidae
Enypniastes eximia
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Elasipodida
Family: Pelagothuriidae
Ludwig, 1893
Type genus
Pelagothuria
Ludwig, 1893
Genera
Synonyms
  • Enypniastidae Östergren, 1907
  • Planktothuridae Gilchrist, 1920
  • Planktothuriidae Gilchrist, 1920

Pelagothuriidae is a family of deep-sea swimming sea cucumbers. They are somewhat unusual in appearance, in comparison with other sea cucumbers, having numerous appendages, including conical papillae and leaf-like tentacles. Most of them are benthopelagic, which means that they are able to swim for a time from the bottom : the species Pelagothuria natatrix is the only true pelagic holothurian (and echinoderm, to date) ; it looks like a jellyfish. Most members of the order inhabit deep-sea environments, like Enypniastes.