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Psychropotes

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Psychropotes
Psychropotes sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Elasipodida
Family: Psychropotidae
Genus: Psychropotes
Théel, 1882[1]
Synonyms
  • Euphronides Théel, 1882
  • Nectothuria Belyaev & Vinogradov, 1969
  • Triconus Hérouard, 1909

Psychropotes is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Psychropotidae. The members of this genus possess the ability to swim, although this is only facultative.

Description

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As adults, species of Psychropotes are roughly cylindrical in shape and red to violet in colour. They have a sail-like appendage which can be used for swimming during the larval stage, but is no longer needed when it is fully grown. Larvae of Psychropotes species are benthopelagic and swim around using the aforementioned appendage, however researchers are still trying to understand its use when the holothurian is fully grown. Larvae are transparent and can grow to around 2 cm long.

Species

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The following species are recognised in the genus Psychropotes:[2]

References

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  1. ^ Théel H. (1882). "Report on the Holothuroidea dredged by H.M.S. 'Challenger' during the years 1873-76. Part i." Challenger Reports, Zool. iv: 176 pp.
  2. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Psychropotes Théel, 1882". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 17 July 2021.