Dr. Karine Marangon
Info
According to SeaLifeBase, the sea cucumber Actinopyga agassizii is an herbivorous species that is found in seagrass beds, among other places
In addition, this sea cucumber is known to have an "animal lodger", the commensal visceral fish Carapus bermudensis of thae family Carapidae, which usually resides in the sea cucumber's aquatic lungs that open into the gut.
This fish manages to prevent the sea cucumber from showing its typical defensive behavior of ejecting its Cuvier's tubes at even minor disturbance.
Carapus bermudensis threads itself tail first into the cloaca of the sea cucumber, slips into the water lung, which it breaks through, and then enters the body cavity.
The sea cucumber does not appear to be harmed by the visceral fish, but the fish finds some protection in the viscera of the sea cucumber.
Synonyms:
Actinopyga agassizi (Selenka, 1867)
Mülleria agassizii Selenka, 1867
Very special thanks for the firdst photo of Actinopyga agassizii to Dr. Dr. Karine Marangon, who has taken this photo at Cozumel, Mexico
In addition, this sea cucumber is known to have an "animal lodger", the commensal visceral fish Carapus bermudensis of thae family Carapidae, which usually resides in the sea cucumber's aquatic lungs that open into the gut.
This fish manages to prevent the sea cucumber from showing its typical defensive behavior of ejecting its Cuvier's tubes at even minor disturbance.
Carapus bermudensis threads itself tail first into the cloaca of the sea cucumber, slips into the water lung, which it breaks through, and then enters the body cavity.
The sea cucumber does not appear to be harmed by the visceral fish, but the fish finds some protection in the viscera of the sea cucumber.
Synonyms:
Actinopyga agassizi (Selenka, 1867)
Mülleria agassizii Selenka, 1867
Very special thanks for the firdst photo of Actinopyga agassizii to Dr. Dr. Karine Marangon, who has taken this photo at Cozumel, Mexico
