Stichopus herrmanni

(Semper, 1868)

Vernacular names

English : Curryfish
French : Holothurie curry

Classification

Class : Holothuroidea
Order : Synallactida
Family : Stichopodidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification

One of the larger sea cucumber species, reaching a length up to 50 cm. Body is cylindrical with a flat sole. Wrinkled skin, sometimes with spiny projections. Coloration green to olive-green, grey or brown, often with black dots.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa to south Japan, north Australia, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Tonga). Lives in seagrass beds, rubble, sandy and muddy bottoms, down to 25 meters deep.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not listed
Status : In some areas of its range such as Indonesia, the species is overxploited and has greatly declined (up to 90% of its population).
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation