Elasipodida
{{Short description|Order of sea cucumbers}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Enypniastes sp.jpg
| image_caption = Enypniastes sp.
| taxon = Elasipodida
| authority = Théel, 1882
| subdivision = See Text
}}
Elasipodida is an order of sea cucumbers. They have numerous appendages, including conical papillae and leaf-like tentacles. Although many species are benthic, a number are pelagic, and may have their appendages modified to form sails or fins. Most members of the order inhabit deep-sea environments, such as the species of the genus Enypniastes.{{cite web |url=http://echinoblog.blogspot.fr/2012/09/deep-sea-swimming-sea-cucumbers-and.html |title=Deep-Sea Swimming Sea Cucumbers and the "most bizarre holothurian species in existence"! |last1=Mah |first1=Christopher |last2= |first2= |date=September 18, 2012 |website=The Echinoblog |publisher= |accessdate=}}
Classification
The following families are recognised in the order Elasipodida:{{Cite web|title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Elasipodida|url=https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=123112|access-date=2021-07-16|website=www.marinespecies.org}}
- family Elpidiidae Théel, 1882
- family Laetmogonidae Ekman, 1926
- family †Palaeolaetmogonidae Reich, 2012
- family Pelagothuriidae Ludwig, 1893
- family Psychropotidae Théel, 1882
- family Deimatidae? Théel, 1882 Synonym of Benthodytes, Psycheotrephes, and Psychropotes.
{{clr}}
Image:Pelagothuria natatrix.jpg|The only true pelagic echinoderm known to date : Pelagothuria natatrix (here close to the Galapagos).
Image:Expl0790 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|Benthodytes sp.
Image:Scotoplanes globosa and crab.jpg|Scotoplanes globosa (a.k.a. "sea pig", family Elpidiidae)
Image:Expl5475.jpg|A Pelagothuriidae
Image:Expl5494.jpg|A Psychropotidae
References
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Commons}}
- {{cite book |author= Barnes, Robert D. |year=1982 |title= Invertebrate Zoology |publisher= Holt-Saunders International |location= Philadelphia, PA|page= 995|isbn= 0-03-056747-5}}
- {{cite web |url=http://echinoblog.blogspot.fr/2012/09/deep-sea-swimming-sea-cucumbers-and.html |title=Deep-Sea Swimming Sea Cucumbers and the "most bizarre holothurian species in existence"! |last1=Mah |first1=Christopher |last2= |first2= |date=September 18, 2012 |website=The Echinoblog |publisher= |accessdate=}}