Sea Pudding

Four sided sea cucumber, Sea pudding (Isostichopus badionotus).

Isostichopus badionotus is a large deposit-feeding sea cucumber found throughout the Caribbean and is very common in Bermuda. As a member of Echinodermata, the sea cucumber has a water vascular system with tube feet, pentaradial body symmetry, a dermal endoskeleton and mutable connective tissue. I. badionotus is a crucial component of the marine food web. As a bioeroder, this species is responsible for mixing the sediment and recycling detritus. Sea cucumbers are gonochoric and have external fertilization. I. badionotus is also commercially important. There is a large fishery in Asian countries where the body wall of sea cucumbers is considered a delicacy.

Source: www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Isost...

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Uploaded on April 3, 2010
Taken on April 2, 2010