Sea Cucumber
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Sea Cucumbers are echinoderms, related to sea stars and sand dollars.
The picture shows it to be a spiny, soft bodied animal.
Different species can be found in the intertidal zone, while other species spend their lives on deeper ocean floors.
The variety of sea cucumber species also means they come in a variety of sizes, ranging anywhere from an inch to over three feet.
While their diets change from habitat to habitat, they are considered benthic feeders (animals that feed on the bottom of the ocean), eating algae and other organic materials in their territory.
They are fished commercially in many parts of the world, with Asia serving as the biggest market.
© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels