Sea Cucumber

The sea cucumber is an important animal to the islands of Palau. Many ecological systems depend upon it as a food resource. The sea cucumber's eggs are a primary food source for many other sea creatures. A relative of the starfish, sea cucumbers are also invertebrates with soft bodies. The Palauan people use the sea cucumber to protect their feet when walking in the reef. They squeeze the sea cucumber until it squirts out sticky threads, which they put on their feet. Even though this practice may sound harsh, the sea cucumber returns to the reef unharmed. These threads are normally used by the sea cucumber to trap its enemies.