This Creature Can Breathe And Eat Through Its Anus
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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The giant California sea cucumber can both breathe and eat through its anus
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The sea cucumber pumps seawater in and out of its anus to aerate respiratory trees in its large intestine. These trees absorb oxygen from the water
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The respiratory trees also filter algae and other microbes from the water for digestion
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The cucumber's oral tentacles also rummage for food in the sediment
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These are the specialised structures inside its body that function like gills to extract oxygen from the water it draws in
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Muscles around the anus contract to pull water into the body and then expel it once the oxygen is extracted
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Some sea cucumber species can also use their anus to eject sticky threads to deter predators
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The California sea cucumber is related to sea stars, sea urchin, and sand dollars
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