Mesothuria
A cosmopolitan genus of sea cucumbers in family Mesothuriidae.
Mesothuria is a genus of sea cucumbers within the family Mesothuriidae. These animals are found in oceans worldwide. The genus includes 26 recognized species, such as *Mesothuria abbreviata*, *Mesothuria bifurcata*, *Mesothuria carnosa*, *Mesothuria cathedralis*, *Mesothuria crebrapedes*, *Mesothuria deani*, *Mesothuria edwardensis*, *Mesothuria gargantua*, *Mesothuria holothurioides*, *Mesothuria incerta*, *Mesothuria intestinalis*, *Mesothuria magellani*, *Mesothuria maroccana*, *Mesothuria megapoda*, *Mesothuria milleri*, *Mesothuria multipes*, *Mesothuria multipora*, *Mesothuria murrayi*, *Mesothuria oktaknemoides*, *Mesothuria oktaknemus*, *Mesothuria regularia*, *Mesothuria roulei*, *Mesothuria rugosa*, *Mesothuria squamosa*, *Mesothuria sufflava*, and *Mesothuria verrilli*.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Mesothuria
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The genus Mesothuria is classified within the family Mesothuriidae. Its species are found worldwide, as the genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes 26 recognized species, each described by various authors between 1805 and 2012.
Reader's Guide
Mesothuria is a genus of sea cucumbers noted for its cosmopolitan distribution, meaning its species occur in oceans around the world. The genus belongs to the family Mesothuriidae. The 26 recognized species were described by multiple researchers over more than two centuries, with the earliest described species being Mesothuria intestinalis (Ascanius, 1805) and the most recent being Mesothuria milleri Gebruk & Solis-Marin in Gebruk, Solis-Marin, Billett, Rogacheva & Tyler, 2012. The species list includes names such as Mesothuria abbreviata, Mesothuria bifurcata, and Mesothuria carnosa, among others. The genus's significance lies in its wide geographic range and the diversity of its species, which contribute to the understanding of sea cucumber taxonomy and distribution.
Did You Know?
- Mesothuria belongs to the family Mesothuriidae.
- There are 26 recognized species in the genus Mesothuria.
- The earliest described species is Mesothuria intestinalis (Ascanius, 1805).
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