Peniagone

Lore & Background

The genus Peniagone belongs to the family Elpidiidae and comprises deep-sea sea cucumbers. The type species is Peniagone wyvillii, described by Théel in 1882. Many species were described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by researchers such as Théel, Ludwig, and Vaney, with additional species added as recently as 2013 by Rogacheva and Gebruk.

Reader's Guide

The genus Peniagone is significant as a group of deep-sea holothurians within the family Elpidiidae. Its type species, Peniagone wyvillii, was established by Théel in 1882. The genus includes 33 recognized species, many described during the late 1800s and early 1900s by prominent naturalists such as Théel, Ludwig, and Vaney. More recent contributions, such as those by Rogacheva and Gebruk in 2013, have added to the diversity of the genus. The species are distributed across various deep-sea environments, with names often reflecting their discoverers or locations (e.g., Peniagone azorica, Peniagone japonica). The genus remains a subject of taxonomic study, with ongoing revisions and new species descriptions.

Did You Know?

• Peniagone wyvillii is the type species of the genus.
• The genus contains 33 recognized species.
• The earliest described species in the genus is Peniagone elongata from 1879.
• The most recently described species is Peniagone coccinea from 2013.