Sea apple

Pseudocolochirus violaceus · Sea apple is the common name for colorful, round sea cucumbers of the genus Pseudocolochirus, found in Indo-Pacific waters.

Sea apple
Photo: Alexander Vasenin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sea apple
Photo: I, Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sea apple
Photo: Karelj, Public domain

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumEchinodermata
ClassHolothuroidea
OrderDendrochirotida
FamilyCucumariidae
GenusPseudocolochirus
SpeciesPseudocolochirus violaceus

Where it lives

Tropical western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean, from Indonesia to Australia.

Fun facts

  • When stressed, a sea apple can violently shoot its internal organs out of its rear end in a process called evisceration.
  • As a chemical defense, it can release a toxic substance called holothurin into the surrounding water.
  • If threatened, it can gulp down seawater to swell to almost double its normal size so currents can sweep it away to safety.
  • An adult sea apple's body can grow up to 7.8 inches (20 cm) long, not even counting its feathery tentacles.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).