Psychropotes


Psychropotes is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Psychropotidae. All members of this genus possess the ability to swim, although this is only facultative.

Description

As an adult, Psychropotes is roughly cylindrical in shape and red to violet in colour. It has a sail-like appendage which it is able to use for swimming during its larval stage, but it is no longer needed when it is fully grown. Psychropotes larvae are benthopelagic and swim around using the aforementioned appendage, however researchers are still trying to understand its use when the holothurian is fully grown. Larvae are transparent and can grow to around 2 cm long.

Species

Species in the genus include: