Cercodemas anceps
| Cercodemas anceps | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroidea |
| Order: | Dendrochirotida |
| Family: | Cucumariidae |
| Genus: | Cercodemas |
| Species: | C. anceps
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cercodemas anceps Selenka, 1867
| |
Cercodemas anceps, commonly known as the pink warty cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber found in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific.
Description
Cercodema anceps is a moderately sized sea cucumber, growing up to 11 cm (4.3 in) in length. They have a fairly short squarish body with distinct pink and yellow coloring. They have small rounded bumps on them, giving them their common name “Pink Warty Sea Cucumber.”[1]
Distribution and habitat
Cercodema anceps is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region. They are found at depths of 5–65 m (16–213 ft). C. anceps is benthic.[2] They are commonly found on wooden debris. In areas with good water flow, they may be very abundant.[1]
Ecology and behavior
Cercodema anceps are filter feeders, meaning they eat microorganisms from the water. Specifically, they use their tentacles to catch food and move it to their mouth.[3]
Members of the Cucumariidae family reproduce in a variety of ways. Some are hermaphorditic and some brood their eggs.[4] There is limited research on C. anceps specifically so their reproductive strategies are not well known. Interestingly, at least four species within the order Dendrochirotida are capable of asexual reproduction by breaking off sections of their body and regenerating those parts.[5] It is possible that C. anceps are able to asexually reproduce in the same fashion.
Conservation
Due to their colorful appearance, C. anceps is often targeted by Chinese recreational fisheries.[6] It is unclear what effect this may have on their population numbers.
Uses
Compounds naturally occurring in C. anceps have shown potential in killing certain types of cancers, though more research is needed.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Cercodemas anceps". Reef Life Survey | Reef Species of the World. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ^ "Cercodemas Selenka, 1867". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ^ J. Huisman and L. Twomey (2008). "The black Swan: investigating the estuary after dark". Landscope. 23 (4): 46–51 – via researchportal.murdoch.edu.au.
- ^ Martinez, Mariano I.; Alba-Posse, Ezequiel J.; Lauretta, Daniel; Penchaszadeh, Pablo E. (2020-09-01). "Reproductive features in the sea cucumber Pentactella perrieri (Ekman, 1927) (Holothuroidea: Cucumariidae): a brooding hermaphrodite species from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean". Polar Biology. 43 (9): 1383–1389. Bibcode:2020PoBio..43.1383M. doi:10.1007/s00300-020-02715-1. hdl:11336/135537. ISSN 1432-2056.
- ^ Dolmatov, Igor Yu (2014). "Asexual reproduction in holothurians". The Scientific World Journal. Forward Series. 2014 527234. doi:10.1155/2014/527234. ISSN 1537-744X. PMC 4227402. PMID 25405228.
- ^ Li, Huo; Liu, Jinshang; Wang, Shengpeng; Huang, Wen (2021-03-18). "The complete mitochondrial genome of Pink warty sea cucumber (Cercodemas anceps Selenka, 1867)". Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. 6 (3): 959–961. doi:10.1080/23802359.2021.1891979. ISSN 2380-2359. PMC 8006909. PMID 33796698.
- ^ Cuong, Nguyen Xuan; Vien, Le Thi; Hanh, Tran Thi Hong; Thao, Nguyen Phuong; Thao, Do Thi; Thanh, Nguyen Van; Nam, Nguyen Hoai; Thung, Do Cong; Kiem, Phan Van; Minh, Chau Van (2015-08-15). "Cytotoxic triterpene saponins from Cercodemas anceps". Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 25 (16): 3151–3156. doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.06.005. ISSN 0960-894X. PMID 26099533.