Scotoplanes globosa, commonly known as the sea pig, is a species of sea cucumber that lives in the deep sea.[1] It was first described by Hjalmar Théel, a Swedish scientist. Scotoplanes globosa, along with numerous other sea cucumbers were discovered by Théel during an expedition on HMS Challenger between the years of 1873-1876. Scotoplanes globosa was officially described in 1882, 6 to 9 years after its first sighting. Scotoplanes globosa is most closely related to the genus Peniagone.[2]
| Scotoplanes globosa | |
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| Scotoplanes globosa and symbiotic lithodid crab | |
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| Dorsal and ventral view | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroidea |
| Order: | Elasipodida |
| Family: | Elpidiidae |
| Genus: | Scotoplanes |
| Species: | S. globosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Scotoplanes globosa (Théel, 1879)
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| Synonyms | |
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Ecology
editCongregations of smaller Scotoplanes globosa are often observed on the ocean floor in groups of 10 to 30.[3] However, groups of Scotoplanes globosa have been observed to be as many as 600 individuals in one congregation. A congregation of Scotoplanes globosa is called a "trawl". These groups of Scotoplanes globosa often appear to all be facing in one direction, into the ocean current. It is believed that this behavior aids S. globosa in the detection of the richest feeding sites. Scotoplanes globosa has also been observed to be the host of multiple deep-sea parasites, such as the small gastropods Stilapex and Crinolamia, and various parasitic crustaceans.[4] These parasites typically bore small holes into the body wall of S. globosa. Scotoplanes globosa are also often accompanied by a symbiotic lithodid crab, the Neolithodes diomedea.[5] It is believed that approximately 22% of Scotoplanes globosa are attended by at least one of these crabs. One possible theory is that these crabs latch onto S. globosa gaining access to nutrients and movement, while the host gets protection from parasites.[5] At this time, scientists are unsure whether the relationship between S. globosa and N. diomedea is mutualistic or commensal.[5]
Anatomy
editScotoplanes globosa is typically 2 to 15 cm in length and appear to be a translucent white color.[6] S. globosa is covered in tube-like feet which are used in locomotion.[6] S. globosa are bilaterally symmetrical, covered in tube-like feet which are used in locomotion and possibly respiration.[7] The tube-like structures found on top of the Scotoplanes globosa are also feet, as opposed to antennae. Scientists are still unsure whether these upper-tube-feet are used in locomotion or used as sensory accessories. They are quite buoyant and are easily displaced by strong currents. Scotoplanes globosa were found to contain only one gonad in both males and females, with evidence that gametogenesis occurred.[7]
Locomotion
editScotoplanes globosa has a soft, round body with five-to-seven pairs of long, tube-like limbs extending from its body.[6] S. globosa uses these limbs for locomotion. They “walk” along the ocean floor using muscle constrictions to push fluid in and out the tube feet cavities.[6] Scotoplanes is the only genus of holothurians that have been observed to "walk" in this manner.
Distribution and habitat
editScotoplanes globosa are found in almost all deep-sea regions in the world. Specifically, S. globosa live on the abyssal plain. They are commonly found off the coast of San Diego, as well as in the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.[3] Scotoplanes globosa typically live at depths of over 1,000 m (3,280 ft), and have been found in the deepest locations in the ocean, including the Kermadec Trench at a depth of 6,659 m (21,850 ft) and in the Philippine Trench at a depth of 9,997 m (32,800 ft) by the Galathea expedition in the 1950s.[8] Scotoplanes globosa have been observed to face in a certain direction which is normally against the current and that is because it helps them to search for more fresh and better food quality.[9]
Diet
editScotoplanes globosa is a deposit feeder, eating detritus which has sunk to the ocean floor. S. globosa has been observed to strongly prefer consuming fresh, recently fallen (approximately within the last 100 days) sediments on the surface of the ocean floor as opposed to older sediments.[10] These freshly-fallen sediments are more nutrient-rich. Scotoplanes globosa captures food through its mucus-covered tentacles which surround their mouth.[10] S. globosa is also known to congregate around the carcasses of whales which have fallen to the seafloor.[11] Lundsten et al.. (2010) determined that S. globosa find deep-sea whale carcasses by smell, as well as other nutrient-rich food sources; the extremely nutrient-rich whale carcasses also attract other deep-sea creatures in large numbers.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Sea Pig - Scotoplanes globosa - Overview - Encyclopedia of Life". Eol.org. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ Takano, Tsuyoshi; Ijichi, Minoru; Itoh, Hajime; Fukuda, Hideki; Yoshizawa, Susumu (2018-11-26). "Complete mitochondrial genome sequences of a deep-sea holothurian species of the genus Scotoplanes (Elasipodida: Elpidiidae)". Mitochondrial DNA Part B. 4 (1): 112–113. doi:10.1080/23802359.2018.1536462. ISSN 2380-2359.
- ^ a b Smith, Craig R.; Hamilton, Susan C. (September 1983). "Epibenthic megafauna of a bathyal basin off southern California: patterns of abundance, biomass, and dispersion". Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers. 30 (9): 907–928. Bibcode:1983DSRA...30..907S. doi:10.1016/0198-0149(83)90048-1. ISSN 0198-0149.
- ^ Takano, Tsuyoshi; Itoh, Hajime; Kano, Yasunori (2018-07-03). "DNA-based identification of an echinoderm host for a deep-sea parasitic snail (Gastropoda: Eulimidae)". Molluscan Research. 38 (3): 212–217. doi:10.1080/13235818.2017.1372865. ISSN 1323-5818. S2CID 90967305.
- ^ a b c Barry, James P.; Taylor, Josi R.; Kuhnz, Linda A.; De Vogelaere, Andrew P. (2016-10-15). "Symbiosis between the holothurian Scotoplanes sp. A and the lithodid crab Neolithodes diomedeaeon on a featureless bathyal sediment plain". Marine Ecology. 38 (2): e12396. doi:10.1111/maec.12396. ISSN 0173-9565.
- ^ a b c d Hansen, Bent (June 1972). "Photographic evidence of a unique type of walking in deep-sea holothurians". Deep Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts. 19 (6): 461–IN3. Bibcode:1972DSRA...19..461H. doi:10.1016/0011-7471(72)90056-3. ISSN 0011-7471.
- ^ a b LaDouceur, Elise E. B.; Kuhnz, Linda A.; Biggs, Christina; Bitondo, Alicia; Olhasso, Megan; Scott, Katherine L.; Murray, Michael (2021-08-06). "Histologic Examination of a Sea Pig (Scotoplanes sp.) Using Bright Field Light Microscopy". Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 9 (8): 848. doi:10.3390/jmse9080848. ISSN 2077-1312.
- ^ Idyll, C. P. (1964). Abyss: The Deep Sea and the Creatures that live in it. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
- ^ "J.D. Gage & P.A. Tyler., Deep-sea biology: a natural history of organisms at the deep-sea floor xvi, 504p. (Cambridge University Press1991. Price $80.00". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 71 (3): 747–748. August 1991. doi:10.1017/S0025315400053339. ISSN 0025-3154.
- ^ a b Miller, Robert J.; Smith, Craig R.; Demaster, David J.; Fornes, William L. (2000-07-01). "Feeding selectivity and rapid particle processing by deep-sea megafaunal deposit feeders: A 234Th tracer approach". Journal of Marine Research. 58 (4): 653–673. doi:10.1357/002224000321511061.
- ^ a b Lundsten, Lonny; Schlining, Kyra L.; Frasier, Kaitlin; Johnson, Shannon B.; Kuhnz, Linda A.; Harvey, Julio B.J.; Clague, Gillian; Vrijenhoek, Robert C. (December 2010). "Time-series analysis of six whale-fall communities in Monterey Canyon, California, USA". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 57 (12): 1573–1584. Bibcode:2010DSRI...57.1573L. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.003. ISSN 0967-0637.