Sea Cucumber

Sea cucumbers are named for their resemblance to the vegetable cucumber. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. At the underside do they have a myriad of small feet. Most species are up to 30 cm in length, but the Snake Sea Cucumber can reach 2 meters.

Sea cucumbers are scavengers and therefore important for the marine ecosystem. Sea cucumbers are toxic and hence protected from most predators. In Maldives are sea cucumbers harvested for food. They are cooked in sea water (this neutralizes the toxin) and then dried.