Ananas Ananas Ananas is a plant genus of the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), native to South America and Central America, which includes the species "Ananas comosus", the pineapple. This genus originated in Mesoamerica and was brought to the Caribbean Islands by the Carib natives. The oldest register with the representation of the fruit seems to be included in the Cascajal Block, attributed to the Olmec civilization. In 1493, Christopher Columbus first saw plants of this genus in Guadeloupe. It was brought from Brazil to Europe by the Portuguese, and from there was distributed to the Pacific Islands by the Spanish and the
Thelenota ananas over the surface of its body. It has numerous large tubed feet on its flat underside as well. This type of sea cucumber is edible and is considered a delicacy in the Far East countries. Due to intense commercial exploitation, the population of "T. ananas" has declined by 80-90% in at least 50% of its range; it is listed as endangered by IUCN. The worm pearlfish ("Encheliophis vermicularis") is a parasite of this species and each parasitised individual will host a male and female pair of the fish which live inside its body. Thelenota ananas Thelenota ananas, also known as