holothurian. [ hŏl′ə-thur′ē-ən, hō′lə- ] Any of various echinoderms of the class Holothuroidea, characterized by elongated bodies with tentacles around the mouth and five rows of tube feet. Holothurians are softer than other echinoderms because they lack spines and the skeleton is greatly reduced.

What does Holothuroidea mean in Latin?

of, relating to, or belonging to the Holothuroidea. Word origin. C19: from New Latin Holothūria name of type genus, from Latin: water polyp, from Greek holothourion, of obscure origin.

What does a sea cucumber do?

Sea cucumbers are scavengers that feed on small food items in the benthic zone (seafloor), as well as plankton floating in the water column. Algae, aquatic invertebrates, and waste particles make up their diet. They eat with tube feet that surround their mouths.