The Digestive System of the Giant California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus
californicus)
The Giant California Sea Cumber has a primitive digestive system. It has tentacles around its mouth to assist in feeding. Food sticks to the tentacles which are then pulled into the mouth one at a time and the food is licked off the tentacles. The tentacles are also used to shovel mud into the sea cumber's mouth so that it can extract food from the mud. After the food enters the sea cumber's mouth it passes through the esophagus to the stomach pharynx, then through the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach, digestive enzymes break the food down. The food the moves to the intestine where it is further digested by enzymes and nutrients are absorbed. The waste products are expelled through the sea cumber's anus. The anus is not only used to expel waste but also to breathe by ingesting water and absorbing oxygen from it.
An unusual use the sea cucumber makes of its internal organs, including its intestines, is that when seriously threatened, it may expel its organs. The organs entangle the predator, enabling the sea cucumber to escape. The organs grow back. The video below shows a Giant California Sea Cucumber expelling it intestines.
californicus)
The Giant California Sea Cumber has a primitive digestive system. It has tentacles around its mouth to assist in feeding. Food sticks to the tentacles which are then pulled into the mouth one at a time and the food is licked off the tentacles. The tentacles are also used to shovel mud into the sea cumber's mouth so that it can extract food from the mud. After the food enters the sea cumber's mouth it passes through the esophagus to the stomach pharynx, then through the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach, digestive enzymes break the food down. The food the moves to the intestine where it is further digested by enzymes and nutrients are absorbed. The waste products are expelled through the sea cumber's anus. The anus is not only used to expel waste but also to breathe by ingesting water and absorbing oxygen from it.
An unusual use the sea cucumber makes of its internal organs, including its intestines, is that when seriously threatened, it may expel its organs. The organs entangle the predator, enabling the sea cucumber to escape. The organs grow back. The video below shows a Giant California Sea Cucumber expelling it intestines.