Sea apple

A brightly colored tropical sea cucumber in the genus Pseudocolochirus, named for its rounded body and branching feeding tentacles.

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Feeding tentacle: A modified sea cucumber tube foot used to capture suspended food particles. Sea apples spread branching tentacles into currents and transfer trapped particles to the mouth.
Pseudocolochirus: A genus of tropical sea cucumbers that includes species commonly called sea apples. Sea apple names are applied to members of this genus.
Marine aquarium: A saltwater aquarium designed to maintain marine organisms. Sea apples are sometimes kept in reef aquariums, where their care is demanding.
Pseudocolochirus violaceus: A species of sea cucumber in the genus Pseudocolochirus, often called the violet sea apple. Its vivid violet coloration is a familiar example of the sea apple’s striking appearance.
Suspension feeding: A feeding mode in which animals capture food particles suspended in water. Sea apples obtain food by filtering particles from passing seawater.
Holothuroidea: The echinoderm class comprising sea cucumbers. Sea apples are members of this class, whose body plan differs from other echinoderms.
Reef aquarium husbandry: The practice of maintaining corals and other reef organisms in aquariums. Stable water conditions and continuous particle food are central to keeping sea apples.
Pseudocolochirus axiologus: A tropical sea cucumber species in the genus Pseudocolochirus. It is another species included among sea apples.
Tube foot: A fluid-operated appendage of echinoderms used in movement, attachment, or feeding. The sea apple’s feeding tentacles are modified tube feet.
Echinoderm: A marine invertebrate in the phylum Echinodermata, including sea stars and sea cucumbers. This broader group includes sea apples and explains their radial ancestry and water vascular system.