ABSTRACT
Interspecific differences in tentacle morphology suggest different feeding mechanisms in abyssal holothurians. Foregut samples from O. mutabilis and P. longicauda showed similar profiles for total numbers of food items in different size fractions and higher taxon richness than the foregut contents of Pseudostichopus. Chloropigment levels in the oesophageal contents of O. mutabilis and P. longicauda were higher than those in surface sediments collected at the same site and time but showed little difference from other regions of the gut suggesting little intestinal breakdown. Ratios of gut/total body weight suggest that O. mutabilis employs conveyorbelt feeding whereas P. longicauda and Pseudostichopus feed intermittently and show cycles of gut filling and emptying.
