Giant Deep Sea Cucumber [Echinoleucon gigantea]
Description
One of the largest known species of sea cucumbers, it can reach up to 1 meter in length. It inhabits the abyssal zone of the ocean, where light does not penetrate. It has a thick, leathery skin, usually dark brown or black. It feeds on particles in the sediment, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling in these extreme habitats.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropods
Arthropoda
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Crustaceans
Malacostraca
|
| Order |
Cumaceans
Cumacea
|
| Family |
Leuconidae
Leuconidae
|
| Genus |
Echinoleucon
Echinoleucon
|