Molpadiida

Molpadiida
Molpadiida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Haeckel, 1896
Subclass: Apodacea
Order: Molpadiida
Families

Caudinidae
Geophyrothuriidae
Molpadiidae

Molpadiida is an order of sea cucumbers. Unlike other sea cucumbers, their hind body is narrowed to form a distinct tail. Although they possess tentacles around the mouth derived from the water vascular system, they have no true tube feet, and are therefore believed to be related to the Apodida.

They have fifteen much branched tentacles and stout body. They have tentacle ampullae and respiratory trees present, a kind of water lung attached to the cloaca. The ossicles take the form of tables, anchors, fusiform rods or perforated plates.[1]

Like their relatives, they are adapted for burrowing into soft sediment, but they are relatively sedentary, rarely moving once they have excavated their burrow. Their burrow is U-shaped, with the animal's tentacles projecting from one end.

References

  1. ^ Marine Species Identification Portal

Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 996. ISBN 0-03-056747-5. 


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