This sea creature breathes through its butt - Cella Wright
427,225 Views
7,831 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Is it a fuzzy sock? An overripe banana? A moldy tube of toothpaste? No! In fact, it’s a humble sea cucumber: a brainless, fleshy form surrounding a digestive tract, and bookended by a mouth and an anus. And while it might look odd, its daily toil paves the way for entire ecosystems to thrive. Cella Wright journeys to the bottom of the ocean to explore the lives of these sausage-shaped wonders.
It’s thought that the 5 teeth-like structures some sea cucumber species have around their anuses may be an active defense mechanism against intruders. What are some other potential biological explanations for these anal teeth?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Cella Wright
- Director Flávia Godoy, Augusto Bicalho Roque, Lívia Serri Francoio
- Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Storyboard Artist Augusto Bicalho Roque
- Animator Flávia Godoy
- Art Director Lívia Serri Francoio
- Music Jarrett Farkas
- Sound Designer Jarrett Farkas
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Fact-Checker Eden Girma, Julia Dickerson
