| The Abyss - Sea Pigs |
| Written by Jonathan C. Wojcik - Photo credits unknown or from public news articles unless otherwise noted. If you know their sources and need them credited or removed, please e-mail me. |
The deep sea abyss is home to a wide variety of fascinating echinoderms, but the most
plentiful - and perhaps some of the most plentiful animals in all the abyss - are a group of
sea cucumbers known as the Scotoplanes, or sometimes "sea pigs."
plentiful - and perhaps some of the most plentiful animals in all the abyss - are a group of
sea cucumbers known as the Scotoplanes, or sometimes "sea pigs."
| Photos by Stefano Schiapaelli (CAML) |
| Photo by MBARI |
| Image from MBARI |
With their vast numbers, sea pigs unsurprisingly suffer from many specialized parasites
and predators. In these incredible images, we get a detailed look at some parasitic
snails deeply embedded in their scotoplane host.
and predators. In these incredible images, we get a detailed look at some parasitic
snails deeply embedded in their scotoplane host.
Unlike other sea cucumbers, scotoplanes possess rows of "feet" with which to gracefully
navigate the soft sediment of the abyssal floor. Their oral tentacles sift through the
surrounding muck for any edible debris, and they may sniff out the carcasses of whales or
other large animals. They are known to occur in massive concentrations, with what seem
like "herds" of several hundred individuals. Perhaps due to the water's current, grazing
scotoplanes all face the same direction at once.
navigate the soft sediment of the abyssal floor. Their oral tentacles sift through the
surrounding muck for any edible debris, and they may sniff out the carcasses of whales or
other large animals. They are known to occur in massive concentrations, with what seem
like "herds" of several hundred individuals. Perhaps due to the water's current, grazing
scotoplanes all face the same direction at once.
| Biologist Sadie Mills poking at a pudgy sea-pig, photographed by Richard O'Driscoll, NZ IPY-CAML |