The miracle of nature - sea cucumbers

Some of the rather strange invertebrates are sea cucumbers. Why are the "marine", of course, their habitat - the Pacific bottom, but why cucumbers? These creatures are more like brown, centimeters twenty to forty in length, a sausage covered with warts and outgrowths, which slowly creeps (among other things, for some reason on its side) over a sandy bottom or hides under rocks in the low tide.

To whom is the cucumber a relative?

By the way, there is an opinion that the Latin name Holothuridae is translated from Latin as "extremely disgusting". This is similar to the truth: externally holothuria (the name of the class to which the sea cucumber belongs ) is very similar to a slug or to a leather pouch filled with internal organs.

And it belongs to the class of echinoderms, and its closest relatives are sea urchins and sea stars. With the same manner move on the legs-tubules, which sets in motion the water pumped through the body. Although in one sea cucumbers are extremely original: they breathe through the backside, drawing water into the anus.

Cucumber freeloaders

Such an incredibly functional back part of holothuria uses all sorts of sea trifle: both crabs, and tiny fish-like carpuses, and worms. They wait for the moment of discovery, they dart there, as in an excellent shelter, and spend the whole day examining cucumber guts. And if you really need to get out, then knock, and the owner releases them.

True, some impudent people also begin to feed on the innards of our hero. Well, who can bear this? And sea cucumbers invented a magnificent way: they just blow their guts through the anus and, thus freeing themselves from freeloaders, grow new ones.

How can you be saved from danger?

All kinds of holothuria, living on the ocean floor, have an incredible stock of ways to protect themselves from dangers. Sea cucumber, the photo of which you can consider in this article, has the ability to change the state of your body from solid to fluid. He, escaping from a predator, can simply "pour" into any gap and harden again there, so that no one can pull it out.

And some sea cucumbers release thin sticky strings, quickly hardening in the water and turning into a real network that can glue the attacker for several hours.

By the way, devoid of viscera, genitals and part of the body, the sea cucumber grows them for a couple of months. And every part of the invertebrate cut in half will turn into a new cucumber.

Edible sea cucumber - trepang

More than 30 types of holothurians are used for food. Since ancient times, these creatures were considered a delicacy. Especially among the inhabitants of China, Japan, Malaysia and India. They are salted, dried, boiled and even smoked.

In addition, sea cucumbers are an excellent aphrodisiac and analgesic, their meat helps to strengthen immunity and lower blood pressure, normalizes the work of the heart muscle. And for the elderly it is generally the elixir of longevity.

By the way, the body of trepanga consists of sterile cells that do not even have a hint of viruses and bacteria. And although this invertebrate looks not very attractive, it is worth to include it in your diet.