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Holothuroidea is a class of marine animals called echinoderms that includes sea cucumbers, which are soft-bodied creatures found on ocean floors around the world. They matter because they play an important role in ocean ecosystems by breaking down organic material and recycling nutrients in the seafloor.
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Thelenota ananas, a giant sea cucumber from the Indo-Pacific tropics
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (/ˌhɒləˌθjʊəˈrɔɪdiə, ˌhoʊlə-/ HOL-ə-thyuu-ROY-dee-ə, HOH-lə-). They are benthic marine animals found on the sea floor worldwide, and the number of known holothuroid species worldwide is about 1,786, with the greatest number being in the Asia–Pacific region. Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as detritivores who help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter, after which microbes can continue the decomposition process.