Some of the rather strange invertebrates - a sea cucumber.Why does the "sea", it is clear, their habitat - the bottom of the Pacific, and that's why, "cucumber"?These creatures are more like brown, twenty to forty centimeters in length, sausage, covered with warts and excrescences that slowly creeps (by the way, for some reason on the side) on sandy bottom, or hidden under rocks in the area of low tide.
This relative of the cucumber?
way, it is believed that the Latin name Holothuridae translated as "extremely heinous."This seems to be true: apparently holothurian (called the class to which belongs the sea cucumber) is very similar to a slug or leathery pouch filled with internal organs.
And she refers to a class of echinoderms, and its closest relatives are sea urchins and starfish.For the same manner to move on legs-ducts, which drives the water is pumped through the body.Although sea cucumbers in a very original: they breathe through ass, pulling water into the anus.
freeloaders cucumber
This incredibly functional rear part of the sea cucumber uses every kind of sea change: the crab, and the like tiny eels fish-karapusy and worms.They are waiting for the moment of opening, darting back as in excellent shelter and spend the whole day examining cucumber gut.And if you really need to get out, then knock, and the owner releases them.
However, some impudent even begin to eat the innards of our hero.Well who can endure it?And sea cucumbers have invented a great way: they are just blown through the anus and your gut, thus freed from the parasites, grow new ones.
How can you escape from danger?
All kinds of sea cucumbers living on the ocean floor, has an incredible reserve of ways to protect against hazards.Sea Cucumber, photos of which you can see in this article, has the ability to change the state of his body from the solid to the fluid.It is to escape from a predator, can simply "join" in any slot and re-solidify it to anybody it could not pull.
Some sea cucumbers produce thin adhesive strings quickly hardening in water and turns into a network that can glue the attacker for a few hours.
the way, devoid of viscera, genitals and torso, sea cucumber grows them for a couple of months.A portion of each cut in half invertebrate become a new cucumber.
edible sea cucumber - trepang
More than 30 species of sea cucumbers used for food.Since ancient times these creatures are considered a delicacy.Especially among the people of China, Japan, Malaysia and India.They are salted, dried, boiled and even smoked.
In addition, sea cucumbers are a great aphrodisiac and painkillers, the meat helps to strengthen the immune system and lower blood pressure, normalizes the heart muscle.And for the elderly is generally the elixir of longevity.
Incidentally, the sea cucumber body consists of sterile cell having no hint of viruses and bacteria.And although it looks invertebrate not very attractive, include it in your diet is.