What :

• Marine invertebrates
• Live on the seafloor
• Found generally in tropical regions
• Named for their unusual oblong shape that resembles a fat cucumber.
• There are about 1,250 species of sea cucumber, all of which belong to the taxonomic class Holothuroidea.
• Crucial to maintain the balance of ocean habitats.

What is in news : Recently, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has seized two tonnes of sea cucumber, a banned marine species, in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas in Tamil Nadu.