Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. They are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of known holothurian species worldwide is about 1,786, with the greatest number being in the Asia-Pacific region. Many of these are gathered for human consumption and some species are cultivated in aquaculture systems. The harvested product is variously referred to as trepang, namako, bêche-de-mer, or balate. Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter, after which bacteria can continue the decomposition process.
Cucumaria is a genus of sea cucumbers.
Actinopyga is a genus of sea cucumbers found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions.
Cucumariidae is a family of sea cucumbers, marine animals with elongated bodies, leathery skins and tentacles that are found on the sea bed.
Bohadschia is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Holothuriidae. They are among the largest, most common, and conspicuous sea cucumbers on coral reefs. They have large, loaf-like bodies that are often strikingly colored.
Phyllophoridae is a family of sea cucumbers, marine invertebrates with elongated bodies, leathery skins and feeding tentacles.
Stichopus is a genus of sea cucumbers from the family Stichopodidae.
Ocnus is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Cucumariidae.
Labidodemas is a genus of marine sea cucumbers in the family Holothuriidae. The genus was erected by Emil Selenka in 1867.
Chiridota is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Chiridotidae. It is an extant genus but some fossil species are known.
Psolus is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Psolidae, marine animals with long bodies, leathery skins and tentacles, that inhabit the sea bed.
Trachythyone is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Cucumariidae.
Thyone is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Phyllophoridae.
Mesothuria is a genus of sea cucumbers belonging to the family Synallactidae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.
