Elasipodida

Elasipodida
Enypniastes sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Holothuroidea
Order:	Elasipodida Théel, 1882
Families
See Text

Elasipodida is an order of sea cucumbers. They have numerous appendages, including conical papillae and leaf-like tentacles. Although many species are benthic, a number are pelagic, and may have their appendages modified to form sails or fins. Most members of the order inhabit deep-sea environments, such as the species of the genus Enypniastes.

Classification

The following families are recognised in the order Elasipodida:

• family Elpidiidae Théel, 1882
• family Laetmogonidae Ekman, 1926
• family †Palaeolaetmogonidae Reich, 2012
• family Pelagothuriidae Ludwig, 1893
• family Psychropotidae Théel, 1882
• family Deimatidae? Théel, 1882 Synonym of Benthodytes, Psycheotrephes, and Psychropotes.

• 
  The only true pelagic echinoderm known to date: Pelagothuria natatrix (here close to the Galápagos).
• 
  Benthodytes sp.
• 
  Scotoplanes globosa (a.k.a. "sea pig", family Elpidiidae)
• 
  A Pelagothuriidae
• 
  A Psychropotidae
• 
  Pannychia sp. (Laetmogonidae)

References

• Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 995. ISBN 0-03-056747-5.
• Mah, Christopher (September 18, 2012). "Deep-Sea Swimming Sea Cucumbers and the "most bizarre holothurian species in existence"!". The Echinoblog.