Sea pigs (Scotoplanes) are deep-sea cucumbers. These marine invertebrates typically measure 4 to 15 centimeters, with a plump, elongated body that often appears pinkish or translucent. They reside on the soft, muddy sediments of the abyssal plains across the global ocean floor.
The Sea Pig Diet
Sea pigs are specialized detritivores, consuming decaying organic matter as deposit feeders. Their main food source is “marine snow,” a continuous shower of organic material that drifts down from the ocean’s upper layers. This marine snow consists of various components, including dead algae, remnants of deceased organisms, fecal matter, and decaying plant material.
Sea pigs actively scavenge the seafloor for organic particles. When substantial food falls occur, such as a large whale carcass sinking to the deep, they gather in significant numbers to feed. Despite their generalist diet, sea pigs prefer fresher detritus, ideally less than 100 days old, as it contains higher nutritional value. Their feeding habits contribute to nutrient recycling within the deep-sea ecosystem.
How Sea Pigs Consume Food
Sea pigs possess specialized feeding appendages around their mouth, which are modified tube feet. These tentacles, numbering around ten, efficiently sweep sediment and organic particles directly into their mouths. The feeding process is slow and methodical, involving probing the muddy seafloor.
In addition to feeding tentacles, sea pigs have sensory organs, called papillae, that help them locate nutrient-rich food. Groups of sea pigs often orient themselves in the same direction, typically facing the prevailing current. This alignment enhances their ability to detect and access new food sources.
Where Sea Pigs Find Their Meals
Sea pigs inhabit the abyssal plains, a vast region of the deep ocean floor. They are found at depths ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 meters, with some observed in trenches as deep as 9,997 meters. This environment is characterized by persistent darkness, near-freezing temperatures, and immense pressure.
Food is sparse and widely dispersed across the deep ocean floor. Sea pigs have adapted to these conditions with a slow metabolism, which helps conserve energy in a low-resource environment. Their presence is widespread, with populations found in the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Their ability to detect and congregate around large, localized food sources, such as fallen carcasses, is a survival strategy.