Does a sea cucumber have a shell?

No, sea cucumbers do not have a shell like many other marine animals. Instead, they possess a leathery, flexible body that is supported by a skeleton made of tiny calcareous plates called ossicles. This unique structure allows them to be more adaptable and burrow into the seabed. Sea cucumbers are part of the echinoderm family, which also includes starfish and sea urchins, but they lack an external hard shell.