Psolus phantapus, also known as the brown psolus, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Psolidae.[2]

Psolus phantapus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Dendrochirotida
Family: Psolidae
Genus: Psolus
Species:
P. phantapus
Binomial name
Psolus phantapus
Strussenfelt, 1765 [1]
Synonyms
  • Holothuria phantapus Strussenfelt, 1765
  • Holothuria phantapus Müller, 1776
  • Holothuria phantapus Linnaeus, 1767
  • Psolus granulatus Ayres, 1851
  • Psolus laevigatus Ayres, 1851
  • Psolus regalis Verrill, 1866

Description

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Psolus phantapus have cylindrically body arched at both ends to form a U shape.[3] They grow up to 200 mm in length. They have a rectangular ventral sole at the base where tube feet concentrate.[4] Their colour range from yellowish brown to dark brown and black.

Habitat

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Psolus phantapus are epifaunal and use the ventral sole to attach themselves. They are found at 4-500 m depth.

Diet

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They are deposit feeders. They have ten bushy orange tentacles[5] that collect food from water.

Reproduction

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They reproduce sexually. Breeding season is February-march.[2]

Distribution

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They are found in Arctic and Atlantic ocean.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Paulay, Gustav (2010). "Colochirus quadrangularis Troschel, 1846". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  2. ^ a b "Psolus phantapus" WoRMs
  3. ^ [1] Bay-Nouailhat A., August 2008, Description of Psolus phantapus, Available on line at http://www.european-marine-life.org/30/psolus-phantapus.php, consulted on 08 July '
  4. ^ "Marine Species Identification Portal : Psolus phantapus".
  5. ^ [2] Habitas
  6. ^ [3] seawater.no
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