There may be several hundred Cuvierian tubules which are attached to the left respiratory tree and lie freely in the
coelomic fluid in the body cavity. When stressed, the sea cucumber faces away from the attacker and contracts its body wall muscles sharply. This causes the wall of the
cloaca to tear and the anus to gape and the free ends of some of the tubes to be ejected. Water from the respiratory tree is forced into these tubules causing a rapid expansion and they elongate by up to 20 times their original length. They have great tensile strength and become sticky when they encounter any object. The adhesive is unique among marine invertebrates and a firm grip is obtained in under ten seconds. Cuverian tubules are readily regenerated, a process that takes about 17 days in
Holothuria leucospilota and five weeks in
Holothuria forskali. Image:Ashy pink sea cucumber (Holothuria fuscocinerea).jpg|
Holothuria fuscocinerea Image:Tubes de Cuvier émis par Holothuria pervicax.jpg|
Holothuria pervicax Image:Holothuria sanctori Cuvieran Tubes.jpg|
Holothuria sanctori Image:Holothuria-Maldives.jpg|
Bohadschia vitiensis held in hand out of the water Image:Holothuria forskali Rab2011 h 3798.JPG|
Holothuria forskali ==See also==