Sea Cucumber Family Profile
|
Class Holothuroidea |
|
Family Cucumariidae  
Genus Paracucumaria & Pseudocolochirus (a.k.a. Sea Apples) |
When sensing extreme danger, to detour predation, species of the Paracucumaria and Pseudocolochirus genera in the family Cucumariidae release holothurin and holotoxin, which can be released after death as well. Deciding to keep any of these or other closely related species in a tank with fish can be like planting a ticking time bomb. Even though what are referred to as Sea Apple Cucumbers have been imported for over 20 years in the marine hobby, because they are beautiful, fascinating to watch and make excellent tank janitor category #1 feeders, these cucumbers should be avoided unless an appropriate environment can be provided, because Genus Pseudocolochirus are among the most poisonous of all sea cucumbers! Be aware too that when Sea Apples spawn their eggs, this can be fatal to all the fish in an aquarium as well!
- Australian Sea Apple (Paracucumaria tricolor, sometimes labeled as Pseudocolchirus violaceus and P. oxiolugus.)
- Range: Australia
- Size: To about 4 inches.
- Characteristics: Highly Toxic!
- Indonesian/Red Sea Apple (Pseudocolochirus axiologus)
- Range: Indonesia
- Size: To about 4 inches.
- Characteristics: Highly toxic!
- Slipper (Psolus chitinoides) Family Psolidae
- Range: Indonesia
- Size: To about 4 inches.
- Characteristics: Highly toxic!
Sea Cucumber Family Profiles Index
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Reference Resources
Death In A Colorful Package by Peter Wilkens
Cucumber Defenses by Rob Toonen
Gad-Zooks Cukes! by Robert Fenner
Sea Cucumbers Profiled by Scott Michael
Other Net Resources About Sea Cucumbers
Marine Species Taxonomy Database Resources
Sea Apple Cucumber images are property
of
Zoltan Tolmacsi and Adrian Howe,
entrants in
the February
2002 Fish & Critter Photo Contest
More Resources
Sea Cucumber Photos Index | Invert Care by Species Index
Fish & Invert Care Index | Fish & Invert Photos Index
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