Synaptidae is a family of sea cucumbers that have no tube feet, tentacle ampullae, retractor muscles, respiratory trees, or cuvierian tubules. They also lack radial canals of the water-vascular system, with only the circumoral ring present.Lambert, P. 1997. Sea cucumbers of British Columbia, southeast Alaska and Puget Sound. Univ. of British Columbia Press, Vancouver.
Synaptids have elongated bodies, and their size varies significantly from small to quite large. Synapta maculata grows to two metres in length. They are quite active, moving by means of waves of peristaltic contractions. Their tegument is somewhat sticky because of the anchor-like spicules that project through the skin.Marine Species Identification Portal
Genera According to World Register of Marine Species: Anapta Semper, 1867 -- 3 species Dactylapta Clark, 1908 -- 1 species †Eoleptosynapta Reich in Reich & Ansorge, 2014 -- 1 species †Eorynkatorpa Reich in Reich & Ansorge, 2014 -- 1 species Epitomapta Heding, 1928 -- 3 species Euapta Östergren, 1898 -- 4 species Eupatinapta Heding, 1928 -- 2 species Labidoplax Östergren, 1898 -- 5 species Leptosynapta Verrill, 1867 -- 33 species Oestergrenia Heding, 1931 -- 9 species Opheodesoma Fisher, 1907 -- 10 species Patinapta Heding, 1928 -- 6 species Polyplectana Clark, 1908 -- 12 species Protankyra Östergren, 1898 -- 37 species Rhabdomolgus Keferstein, 1862 -- 1 species Rynkatorpa Rowe & Pawson, 1967 -- 13 species Synapta Eschscholtz, 1829 -- 2 species Synaptula Örstedt, 1849 -- 29 species
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