Morphology/BiologySea Pigs are actually bottom dwelling swimming sea cucumbers.
Sea Pigs are in an unique genus of only about 3 or 4 other specimen. Most have 8 -12 legs, and they have a large mouth they use to eat detritus which floats down from the surface above. They eat there meals by sucking up the mud on the ocean floor to obtain all of the detritus. There legs are similar to tentacles but act like tube-feet. They are filled with water and allow this creature to move.. very slowly. They have a body wall skeleton made up of clear cucumbers, and their insides are made up of several water cavities within there skin. Snails and parasites often find this animal a great host because of the juices and nutrients located in their skin and even their internal organs... |
DistributionSea pigs have been found in oceans worldwide.
At times they can be found in herds of 100's. They can be spotted at depths from 1000 to 6000 meters below sea level. Sea pig populations can rise dramatically at times as they have been seen increasing or dropping 100 fold in one years notice Ecology/Economical Importance This animal was only recently discovered in an Antarctic expedition in 2007. It was discovered in the Ross Sea off of the coast of New Zealand. These animals are good at filtering the oceans floor of anything that falls down there and can be devoured. Sea Pigs do not do much so they are not of great help to the marine environment, besides allowing snails and parasites to feed on its internal juices. |
Vocabulary
Sea Cucumbers - Marine Echinoderms that dwell in the ocean and look similar but vary greatly from sea snails.
Specimen - A particular part, animal, plant, etc. within a group.
Detritus - Any debris or tiny broken down particles.
Tube-feet - Small feet like structures used for locomotion and grasping typically found on echinoderms
Filtering - Any substance where liquid or gas is passed through to remove unwanted impurities.
Specimen - A particular part, animal, plant, etc. within a group.
Detritus - Any debris or tiny broken down particles.
Tube-feet - Small feet like structures used for locomotion and grasping typically found on echinoderms
Filtering - Any substance where liquid or gas is passed through to remove unwanted impurities.