Ocnus planci

Ocnus planci
Oncus planci
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Dendrochirotida
Family: Cucumariidae
Genus: Ocnus
Species: O. planci
Binomial name
Ocnus planci
Brandt, 1835[1]
Synonyms

Cladodactyla planci Brandt, 1835
Cucumaria planci Von Marenzeller, 1893
Holothuria brunneus (W. Thompson, 1840, ex Forbes MS), non Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821
Ocnus brunneus Forbes & Goodsir, in Forbes, 1841

Ocnus planci is a species of sea cucumber in the family Cucumariidae.[1]

Description

Oncus planci is a cylindrically-shaped sea cucumber grow up to 150 mm in length, and 35 mm in thickness they have a brownish coloration. They have ten tentacles and retractile tube like feet arranged in five double rows.[2] They have thick smooth leathery skin.[3]

Neotany

Oncus planci are known to show neotany. The neotenous form have a single row of tube feet and are less than an inch long. They were first mistaken for separate species and was given the biological name Ocnus brunneus.[4]

Reproduction

Adult reproduce sexually by spawning in spring and the neotenous form reproduce asexually by transverse binary fission.

Distribution

They are found in European waters and west Africa. The neotenous form being distributed in the north.

Habitat

They are epifaunal species on invertebrates and rocks and are found from depths of 15–175 m.

Diet

They are suspension feeders. The eight large and two small feeding tentacles are branched, leaf-like, and lighter in colour than the body.[5][6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Ocnus planci (Brandt, 1835)". WoRMS. WoRMS. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Ocnus Planci". Marine Species of the North Sea. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology series 47 pg 265-270
  5. ↑
  6. ↑


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