This sea cucumber defends itself by expelling their sticky cuvierian
tubules to entangle potential predators. When touched or startled, these
cucumbers can expel them through a tear in the wall of the cloaca
(cakey button) in a process known as evisceration. Replacement tubules
grow back in one-and-a-half to five weeks, depending on the species.
On
finding such a Sea Cucumber it can be an extremely interesting sight.
You have to be careful not to get the tubules entangled on your
equipment or you'll spend the rest of the dive picking off the substance
which is very much like a spray of chewing gum.
The release of these tubules can also be accompanied by the discharge of a toxic chemical known as holothurin,
which has similar properties to soap. This chemical can kill any animal
in the vicinity and is one more way in which these sedentary animals
can defend themselves.
For more information, pictures and videos on evisceration visit the Echinoblog by ChrisM.
For more information, pictures and videos on evisceration visit the Echinoblog by ChrisM.
Watch this video for some humourously told facts about sea cucumbers:
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