| Sea apple | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroidea |
| Order: | Dendrochirotida |
| Family: | Cucumariidae |
| Genus: | Paracucumaria Pseudocolochirus |
| Species [1] | |
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| Synonyms [1] | |
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Koehleria Cherbonnier, 1988 |
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Sea apple is a common name for the colorful and somewhat round sea cucumbers of the genera Paracucumaria and Pseudocolochirus, found primarily in Indo-Pacific waters.[2][3] Sea apples are filter feeders with tentacles, ovate bodies, and tube-like feet. They can release their internal organs or a toxin into the water when stressed. [3][4]
Contents |
Sea apples are holothuroids, and as such share many of the same physical characteristics. A few notable characteristics are discussed below. For more information about the physiology of holothuroids in general, see the appropriate sections in the main article Sea cucumbers.
The ovate body of an adult sea apple can grow up to 7.8 inches long. [5] A central mouth-like cavity is surrounded by feathery tentacles, which add additional length.[4] Sea apples, like many echinoderms, have rows of tube feet which help it move over and adhere to structures.[4]
The bodies and tentacles of sea apples come in many different colorings. The Australian species has a primarily purple body, red feet, and purple and white tentacles.[4]
The sea apple feeds primarily on plankton, which it filters from the water with its tentacles. [4] They alternately bring each tentacle to its mouth, feeding itself from the captured plankton.[3]
Sea apples usually feed at night, when their delicate tentacles are less at risk from predators.[3]
When disturbed, sea apples, like other holothuroids, can expel their internal organs to distract predators.[6] In addition, sea apples can release a toxic saponin called holothurin into the water as a defense mechanism.[5]
In addition, if threatened or in an unsuitable environment, sea apples can consume large amounts of surrounding seawater to swell to nearly double their original size, this allows them to be moved to a new area by water currents, and much more quickly than they could walk. [7]
Because of their interesting appearance and behavior, sea apples are often widely desired as specimen for display aquaria. They are considered reef safe as far as their compatibility with other species.[5] However, they can be considered unsafe for reef aquaria for multiple reasons:
Sea apples often starve to death in display aquaria.[4] Levels of plankton in aquaria are often lower than optimal, and sea apples are often seen attempting to feed not only at night, as in their natural habitat, but also in the daytime.[3] With only low levels of food available, these sea apples often starve, becoming progressively smaller as this happens. [4] To try and circumvent these problems, hobbyists attempt to give the sea apple specimens supplemental feedings of plankton and liquid food.[3][7]
Sea apples are often harassed by many aquarium inhabitants. Crustaceans, such as hermit crabs, and fish often pick on the sea apples feathery tentacles.[4] [7] This may be for predatory purposes, or simply to steal trapped particles and plankton from the tentacles.[7]
Occasionally, sea apples use their defense mechanisms in response to harassment. The release of their toxin can poison other aquarium inhabitants[5][7], and is one of the reasons they are not commonly seen in aquariums.[8]