Deep Sea Echinoderms

These mortal are addicted in some Asian cuisines.

The Echinoderms are imperative both biologically and geologically: biologically because little other groupings are so copious in the biotic desert of the deep sea, as well as the shallower oceans, and geologically as their coalesced skeletons are major contributors to many mineral formations, and can supply important hint as to the geological atmosphere. Promote, it is seized by some that the emission of echinoderms was dependable for the Mesozoic uprising of aquatic life.

Two main subdivisions of Echinoderms are customarily recognized: the more familiar, motile Eleutherozoa, which encompasses the Asteroidea (starfish), Ophiuroidea (brittle stars), Echinoidea (sea urchins and sand dollars) and Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers); and the sessile Pelmatazoa, which consists of the crinoids. Some crinoids, the spine stars, have secondarily re-evolved a free-living existence.

Sea cucumbers

"To deliver the markets of Southern China, Macassan trepangers traded with the Indigenous Australians of Arnhem Land. This Macassan contact with Australia is the first recorded example of trade among the inhabitants of the Australian continent and their Asian neighbours.

Some varieties of sea cucumber (known as gamat in Malaysia or trepang in Indonesia) are said to have excellent healing properties. There are pharmaceutical companies being built based on this gamat creation. Extracts are prepared and made into oil, cream or cosmetics. Some products are proposed to be taken internally. The efficiency of sea cucumber pull out in tissue repair has been the subject of grim study. It is supposed that the sea cucumber contains all the greasy acids needed to play an active role in tissue repair.

Sea cucumbers are supposed to be capable with aphrodisiac powers in the Far East. The reason for this belief is the abnormal reaction of the creature on being kneaded or concerned slightly with fingers. It swells and stiffens and a jet of water is released from one end. This behavior is similar to the production and subsequent ejaculation of the male human penis. After releasing the jet, which is a guilty mechanism and contains irritants, the creature then goes flaccid.

Uni (sea urchin "roe")

sea urchin often appears sessile, i.e. incapable of moving. Sometimes the most visible sign of life is the spines, which are attached at their bases to ball-and-socket joints and can be pointed in any direction. In most urchins, a light touch elicits a prompt and visible reaction from the spines, which converge toward the point that has been touched. A sea urchin has no visible eyes, legs, or means of propulsion, but it can move freely over surfaces by means of its adhesive tube feet, working in conjunction with its spines.

On the oral surface of the sea urchin is a centrally located mouth made up of five united calcium carbonate teeth or jaws, with a fleshy tongue-like structure within. The entire chewing organ is known as Aristotle's lantern, which name comes from Aristotle's accurate description in his History of Animals: