Molpadiidae
Appearance
Molpadiidae | |
---|---|
Molpadia amorpha | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Holothuroidea |
Order: | Molpadida |
Family: | Molpadiidae Müller, 1850 [1] |
Genera | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Trochostomidae Östergren, 1907 |
Molpadiidae is a family of sea cucumbers, marine invertebrates with elongated bodies, leathery skins and tentacles that are found on or burrowing in the sea floor.
Description
[edit]Members of Molpadiidae are fairly small, plump sea cucumbers with a smooth or slimy skin and no tube feet. They are relatively inactive and live in a U-shaped burrow in sand or mud at the bottom of the sea, often at considerable depths. Their tentacles spread out above the sediment to catch food particles.[2]
Genera
[edit]The following genera are accepted as being in the family Molpadiidae:
- Cherbonniera Sibuet, 1974
- Heteromolpadia Pawson, 1963
- Molpadia Cuvier, 1817
References
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