Scientific Name
Holothuroidea spp.
Body Weight
Depending on species, some may reach 5 kg
Body Length
Depending on species, some may reach 2 m, while some may be shorter than 1 cm
Habitat
Diet
Fun Facts
Some sea cucumbers defend themselves by squirting sticky threads towards the predator or even spilling out their guts, which may be toxic. These internal organs can be regenerated in a few weeks.
Sea cucumbers feed on food debris by filtering sand and gathering it from water using their tentacles. This helps control the amount of organic nutrients, thus preventing algae from overgrowing and consuming too much oxygen in water.
Distribution
Threats & Conservation
Threats & Conservation
Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
Pollution
Climate Change
Sea cucumbers are considered a delicacy in Asia. Growing demand has caused over 70 species to become overfished in many waters around the world. As sea cucumbers have an important ecological role, their decline may greatly impact the environment.
IUCN Red List
7 species are Endangered, 9 are Vulnerable, 111 are Least Concern and 244 are Data Deficient
CITES
7 species are listed in Appendix II and 1 is listed in Appendix III
Conservation
Many sea cucumber species are protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong
