Sea Pig, also known as sea pig, marine pig, is a name familiar to many, but the animal we are about to discuss is quite different from what we usually know.
When it comes to sea pigs, many people immediately think of large marine mammals weighing hundreds of kilograms, living entirely underwater and primarily feeding on vegetation. However, the sea pig we are about to mention is entirely different. Its scientific name is Scotoplanes, a genus of deep-sea holothurians, and it is one of the strangest species in the world – or at least, one of the strangest species found at depths of thousands of meters beneath the ocean.
Scientists say sea pigs are about 15cm long and primarily live on the ocean floor. They have been discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean, and are sometimes found in Antarctica.
Sea pigs were first identified by Swedish zoologist Johan Hjalmar Théel during his global expedition aboard the HMS Challenger in the mid-19th century.
Despite its name, this sea pig has no relation to land pigs. Instead, it has an amusing name due to its slightly pink color and its “limbs” that have a peculiar shape, making it appear as if it has two pairs of ears and walks on four legs like a pot-bellied pig.
Sea pigs are considered a type of holothurian or echinoderm, and these strange creatures live at depths ranging from 1,200 to 5,000 meters beneath the ocean’s surface.
Sea pigs are bottom-dwelling creatures with skin resembling that of a pig. They belong to a genus of deep-sea holothurians and are classified under the echinoderm phylum. Most of these animals have specialized tube-like legs, moving by contracting the water-filled cavities within their skin.
The tubular appendages on their bodies are connected to a “water vascular system,” allowing sea pigs to move along the ocean floor by sucking in and expelling water, essentially gliding along the seabed through hydraulic pressure.
Sea pigs also possess tentacles near their mouths. These unusual physical features help them bring food to their mouths.
Sea pigs absorb food by filtering organisms from the mud as well as consuming decomposing animal remains. In nature, these strange animals play a crucial role in the deep-sea ecosystem.
Aside from their bizarre appearance, the respiratory system of sea pigs is also remarkable. These strange creatures rhythmically expand and contract their muscles to pump water into their pores, which is then filtered through a lung-like structure known as a respiratory tree (scientifically speaking, but in reality, they breathe through their anus), allowing them to inhale and extract oxygen.
Because they often scavenge along the ocean floor, sea pigs are considered “vacuum cleaners” of the deep sea. And although they have very few predators in the deep ocean, sea pigs maintain a fairly effective defense mechanism: their skin contains toxins.
Like all echinoderms, Scotoplanes have a poorly developed respiratory system and breathe through their anus. Their bodies are designed to thrive in deep-sea environments, and bringing them too close to the surface will cause their bodies to disintegrate. Despite having many legs, sea pigs move quite slowly, at a pace comparable to that of a snail. Currently, their population worldwide is not large, with only about 300 to 600 individuals remaining.
The skin of a sea pig contains a toxic chemical known as holothurian, toxic enough that some fishermen in the Indo-Pacific use it to catch fish on local coral reefs.
However, to date, humans have very limited knowledge about this strange creature. Researchers face many challenges when studying these peculiar animals because they cannot be brought to the surface for examination. Sea pigs are delicate creatures, and their bodies have evolved and adapted to the high-pressure environment on the ocean floor. Therefore, their bodies would almost immediately disintegrate when brought to the surface.
Consequently, scientists are forced to observe this organism from the surface using high-tech equipment such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Scotoplanes live in the deep ocean, especially in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, typically at depths of 1,200 to 5,000 meters. Some related species can be found in Antarctica. Scotoplanes (and all deep-sea holothurians) are animals that feed by extracting organic particles from deep-sea mud. Scotoplanes use their sense of smell to locate preferred food sources such as whale carcasses. Like many species of holothurians, sea pigs often appear in very large densities, sometimes reaching hundreds of individuals in food-rich areas. Initial observations have recorded groups of 300 to 600 individuals.
