| Holothuriidae (sea cucumbers) |
| 60 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,000.0 g |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 25 m |
| Pacific ocean, excluding Hawaii. |
|
Mean live weight 300 to 1000 g; body-wall thickness 0.4 cm. Body cylindrical, very elongate, larger near the posterior end. Tegument very tough. Papillae on bivium short; emerging from warts; podia on trivium conical, stout, yellow, arranged in 10 rows on the radii and interradii; calcareous disc of podia around 400 micrometer in diameter. Mouth ventral, surrounded by 20 very long, stout tentacles of characteristic yellow color; mouth also surrounded by a collar of small papillae. Anus surrounded by 5 groups of 3 small papillae. Calcareous ring with large and high radial pieces and narrow interradials. Cuvierian tubules absent. Black, with yellow podia. Spicules on tegument with tables and pseudo-buttons; tables with circular discs showing 8 holes, bearing a spire of 4 pillars, with spiny crown, hollow in the middle; pseudo-buttons plate-like with denticulate border; rods in the podia and papillae smooth, with holes at their ends; tentacles with nodulous rods. |
| Not known to be traditionally harvested, but in recent times, due to increasing demand, this species also appears in the processed products of some Pacific Islands; low commercial value. Collected by hand while wading on the reefs at low tide, or by divers. |
|
(LC); Date assessed: 18 May 2010 Ref. 123251)
|
| harmless |
|
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