Sea cucumbers weaponize sticky threads
Sea cucumbers defend themselves by explosively ejecting sticky white threads that entangle predators, showcasing nature's bizarre survival tactics in the ocean depths.
When threatened, soft-bodied sea cucumbers eject sticky white threads, called Cuvierian tubules, from their rear. These threads rapidly expand in seawater, forming a tangled, adhesive mess that can gum up a predator's mouth or senses, effectively deterring fish and crabs. This remarkable defense is a non-lethal form of autotomy, similar to a lizard shedding its tail.
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