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Sea Cucumber


Sea Cucumber
Photo Information
Copyright: Alain Thibodeau (Athila) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 311 W: 238 N: 427] (1535)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1985
Categories: Echinoderms
Camera: Nikkormat EL & Ikelite housing, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5, Ektachrome
Exposure: 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Exotic marine life, The Red Sea, Underwater World #2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-05-01 20:56
Viewed: 3997
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
SEA CUCUMBER

Sea cucumbers (Class Holothuroidea) are cylinder-shaped invertebrate animals that live in seas worldwide. They are found in a variety of sea floor habitats, from warm tropical waters to cold deep sea trenches. These nocturnal animals have a life span of about 5 to 10 years.

Anatomy: The body of the sea cucumber is elongated, leathery and muscular; spines are contained with the skin. These echinoderms have no arms, but do have five-part symmetry. Surrounding the mouth are 8 to 30 tentacles (modified tube feet). Five double rows of tube feet (with tiny suction cups) run along the body; they are used for crawling along the sea bed or anchoring to a rock. A sea cucumber breathes by pumping sea water in and out of an internal organ called a respiratory tree. Some sea cucumbers burrow into the sea floor. Sea cucumbers have no brain. The biggest sea cucumber, the tiger's tail sea cucumber (Holothuria thomasi), is about 2 m long - most sea cucumbers are much smaller than this.

Diet: Sea cucumbers eat decaying matter that floats in the water or is in the sand.
Enemies: Sea turtles, crustaceans, many fish, and people eat sea cucumbers. Sea cucumbers can expel most of their internal organs to confuse predators - they later regrows the organs. Some sea cucumbers' bodies contain toxins that can deter attackers.

Reproduction: Eggs and sperm are broadcast (released) into the water (the sexes are separate). When an egg is fertilized and hatches, the tiny planktonic larva drifts with the ocean currents. It will eventually settle onto the sea floor and develop into an adult.

Classification: Kingdom Animalia (animals), Phylum Echinodermata (echinoderms), Subphylum Asterozoa (=Eleutherozoa - sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, sea stars, brittle stars, and basket stars). Class Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers), about 900 species.

More info on links below.

Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/echinoderm/seacucumber/printout.shtml

Other sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_cucumber
http://www.coastsidebio.com/About_Sea_Cucumbers.htm

Technical data:

Camera : Nikkormat EL
Accessory-1 : Ikelite camera housing with flat port
Lens : 55mm f :3.5 Micro-Nikkor
F/stop : Not recorded
Shutter speed : Not recorded
Flash : Vivitar 285
Accessory-2 : Ikelite flash housing
Film : Ektachrome 64
Flatbed Scanner: Epson 4180
tuffellow, jossim, jeanpaul, marhowie, Violetteddy, scottevers7, Janice, wkshelton, liquidsunshine, Dando, dew77, Gudule, cedryk has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1169] (6448)
  • [2006-05-01 23:34]

Hi Alain,
Amazing capture! Magic light and perfect exposure, well composed with beautiful colours.
Thanks for sharing!

Hi Alain,
This is a really beautiful shot you've got here. The one thing I would suggest is to maybe hold the flash a little bit to the side next time. The top is a little overexposed. But then again, I've never taken a photo underwater, so maybe I'm wrong.
Really cool looking photo anyways.
Mike

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7755)
  • [2006-05-02 4:52]

Hi Alain
Good shot. Good sharpnes, details, colours, DOF, POV and composition.
Well done

osse

Bonjour Alain
Une superbe prise de vue. Les détails et les couleurs sont parfaits. J'aime beaucoup le fond et l'environnement. Une excellente composition
FÉLICITATION...
Merci et bravo....JP

Hi Alain,
I think your underwater captures are amazing. Just as the world of insect macro can fascinate, this alien underwater world is in a class of its own..Excellent shot and note as always,
Howard

Just amazing! Wonderful colors, details and composition. A little bit gruesome but beautiful. :)

Hi Alain,
Very good shot on this Sea Cucumber. Nice colors and detail. Very interesting subject. Your notes are great!
Scott

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3462 W: 145 N: 5916] (17728)
  • [2006-05-02 7:19]

Hi Alain, this looks like an pretty plant! Very well shown, it has come out so well, as if it wasn't in the water at all. Sharp and colourful details. TFS
Janice

Hi Alain, excellent colors, and bG, POV, DOF, great colors, TFS Kyle

Hi Alain,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV and composition.

Thanks for posting, have a great week.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 641 W: 32 N: 791] (3080)
  • [2006-05-02 16:04]

Hi Alain, excellent shot. You certainly do show us the beauty within the sea. Excellent colours and detail with very interesting notes. Well done and TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1674 W: 5 N: 2130] (11890)
  • [2006-05-02 20:43]

Bonjour Alain!

Félicitations pour ce sujet interessant et les magnifiques couleurs.

Merci pour l'envoie et bravo pour la note que malheureusement je droit traduire.

joseph

  • Great 
  • Luce Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 80 W: 0 N: 15] (58)
  • [2006-05-03 13:34]

Une créature bien étrange. La netteté est excellente, l'exposition révèle de bons détails sur l'ensemble de l'image. La composition semble bien équilibrée. Bravo pour cette belle image.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-05-05 3:49]

Hello Alain!
Excellent underwater capture.POV,lighting,colors and composition are wonderful.TFS....:-)

  • Great 
  • Gudule Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 248 W: 11 N: 288] (1204)
  • [2006-05-10 20:02]

Merci de puiser, sans doute, dans votre banque de diapos. Cela contribue à enrichir le site, mais aussi les connaissances des membres.
Très belle et intéressante photo de ce concombre de mer, pour ses beaux détails, couleurs et lumière.
Sujet fascinant. Merci pour tout, Alain, y compris la note.

JN.

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 969 W: 57 N: 1662] (5072)
  • [2006-05-30 20:00]

Hi Alain,
Amazing tentacles. Almost like a flower on the top of the animal.
Best greetings,
Michal

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