Psychropotes
A genus of facultatively swimming sea cucumbers with a sail-like appendage.
Psychropotes is a genus of sea cucumbers belonging to the family Psychropotidae. These animals can swim, but only when they choose to—it is not a constant ability.
As adults, members of this genus are roughly cylindrical and range in color from red to violet. They have a sail-like structure that helps them swim during their larval stage, but this appendage is no longer needed once they mature. The larvae are benthopelagic, meaning they live and swim near the seafloor, using that sail to move. Researchers are still unsure what purpose the appendage serves in the fully grown sea cucumber. Larvae are transparent and can reach about 2 centimeters in length.
The genus includes the following species: Psychropotes belyaevi, Psychropotes depressa, Psychropotes dubiosa, Psychropotes dyscrita, Psychropotes fuscopurpurea, Psychropotes hyalinus, Psychropotes longicauda, Psychropotes loveni, Psychropotes minuta, Psychropotes mirabilis, Psychropotes monstrosa, Psychropotes moskalevi, Psychropotes pawsoni, Psychropotes raripes, Psychropotes scotiae, Psychropotes semperiana, Psychropotes verrucicaudatus, Psychropotes verrucosa, and Psychropotes xenochromata.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Psychropotes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
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.
Reader's Guide
The genus Psychropotes is notable for its facultative swimming ability, a rare trait among sea cucumbers. The sail-like appendage, used by larvae for swimming, persists into adulthood but its function in adults remains unclear, with researchers still trying to understand its use. The genus includes many recognized species, such as Psychropotes belyaevi, Psychropotes depressa, and Psychropotes longicauda, among others. The larvae are benthopelagic and transparent, reaching about 2 cm in length. The adult coloration is red to violet, and the body is roughly cylindrical. The uncertainty about the adult appendage's role highlights ongoing scientific inquiry into the biology of these holothurians.
Did You Know?
- Psychropotes species have a sail-like appendage used for swimming in the larval stage.
- Adults are red to violet and roughly cylindrical in shape.
- The function of the sail-like appendage in adults is still not understood by researchers.
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