Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830
Pinkfish
Holothuria edulis
photo by Purcell, Steven

Family:  Holothuriidae (sea cucumbers)
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 300.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 45 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Mean live weight 200 to 300 g; body-wall thickness 0.3 cm. Body cylindrical, elongate, eight rounded ends. Tegument rough. Podia sparse on bivium, ending in a small disc of around 100 micrometer in diameter; podia on trivium numerous, short and stout, distributed on the radii and interradii, their calcareous disc around 460 micrometer in diameter. Mouth ventral, surrounded by 20 grey tentacles. Anus sub dorsal. Calcareous ring with large radial pieces and narrow interradials. Cuvierian tubules absent. A characteristic black or dark mediodorsal band; coloration lighter laterally; trivium lighter, with small, dark dots. Spicules on tegument with tables and rosettes; tables with circular small disc, having a single hole in the middle, and bearing a spire ending in spines which may form a Maltese crown; presence of rosettes with holes (2 small and 2 larger holes); a second form of rosette with 6 holes and small perforated plates mostly found in the dorsal tegument; ventral podia with large plates and rods; dorsal podia with nodose rods or showing holes at their ends.
Biology:  Not processed product looks similar to that of Holothuria atra and is of low commercial value. A common shallow water species; mostly on inner and outer flats of coastal reefs, back reefs, or shallow coastal lagoons; specimens from barrier reefs have been reported to have a brown bivium and whitish trivium. Most abundant on sandy-muddy grounds with rubble or coral patches and in seagrass beds (Refs. 122, 129602). Also common on sandy-silt sand mixed with coral rubble (Ref. 92930) and those with fine and coarse sand on seagrass (Ref. 129602). Mean population density around 0.1 per square meter or not exceeding 0.1 per square meter (Ref. 122).
IUCN Red List Status: (LC); Date assessed: 18 May 2010 Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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