Sea cucumbers (Class Holothuroidea) belong to Phylum Echinodermata. Echinoderms are common at coastal communities. These species of echinoderm were documented at Slope Base site.
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Unknown Sea Cucumber
This particular sea cucumber was seen near the seafloor at Slope Base, “swimming” in the water column at a depth of 2897 m, just above the seafloor. It looked purplish-brown from a distance, and closer it looked purplish-pink. It had a flap of skin near its “head” that undulated in the water. This species was also spotted by Neptune Canada near the seafloor at a depth of 2659 m, who created an entry about it in the Marine Life Field Guide, but were unable to properly name it.
Reference:
Marine Life Field Guide (Neptune Canada)
Unknown Sea cucumber (Paelopatides sp.) or (Benthodytes sp.)
Sea cucumbers of Paelopatides species can be confused with species of Benthodytes, and species identification requires specimen examination. The holothurian assumes a vertical posture for swimming and can sustain active swimming for more than 20 minutes. This sea cucumber was found swimming at the Slope Base site (~2900 m). Credit: UW/OOI-NSF/WHOI; Dive J2-973; V17.
Sea cucumbers of Paelopatides species can be confused with species of Benthodytes, and species identification requires specimen examination. The holothurian assumes a vertical posture for swimming and can sustain active swimming for more than 20 minutes. This sea cucumber was found swimming at the Slope Base site (~2900 m).
References:
ccfzatlas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Paelopatides
agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=AV20120137251