Pannychia moseleyi is a sea cucumber in the family Laetmogonidae. It was first described by Johan Hjalmar Théel in 1882.[1] It can be up to 200 mm long and 40 mm wide.[2] It occurs in the benthic zone at depths greater than 400 m.[3]

Pannychia moseleyi
A Solaster feeding on Pannychia moseley
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Elasipodida
Family: Laetmogonidae
Genus: Pannychia
Species:
P. moseleyi
Binomial name
Pannychia moseleyi
Théel, 1882

Bioluminescence

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Pannychia moseleyi produces bioluminescence in the form of waves of blue and green light travelling along its body.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Théel, Johan Hjalmar (1882). "Report on the Holothurioidea dredged by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876, Part I. Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873–76". Zoology. 4: 1–176.
  2. ^ O’Loughlin, P. Mark (2013). "New sea cucumber species from the seamounts on the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida, Elasipodida, Dendrochirotida)" (PDF). Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 70: 37–50.
  3. ^ a b Andrews, Brian (1992). Bioluminescence in the benthic holothurian Pannychia moseleyi.
  4. ^ "Glowing to the bottom". MBARI. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-12-15.