What is a Sea Cucumber?
Sea cucumbers (often known as ‘beche-de-mer’) are shaped as the name implies; like a soft-bodied (invertebrates) cucumber, they primarily live on or near the ocean floor and consume small microscopic particles of algae and aquatic animals (omnivores). Their life span can vary, but typically ranges from 5 to 10 years.
Throughout Fijian history, sea cucumbers have become a major export, being shipped out through the Fiji ports, typically the Port of Lautoka and the Port of Suva, to many surrounding Asian continents, where the sea cucumber has become a fine delicacy. Sustainable practices have been developed across Fiji to protect and maintain this industry.
Video: Sea Cucumber (bohadschia argus)
Table: Sea Cucumbers Identification
| Thumbnails | Common Name | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
 | Amberfish | Habitat: Reef slopes, outer lagoon and near passes, on hard bottoms, large rubble and sand patches. Depth range : 10–30 m, Length commonly to : 55 cm, Scientific name: Thelenota anax |
 | Black Teatfish | Habitat: Reef flats, slopes and shallow seagrass beds. Depth range : 0–20 m, but mostly in 0–5 m, Length commonly to : 37 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Microthele) nobilis |
 | Blackspotted Sea Cucumber | Habitat: Reef slopes, close to the coast. Abundant on bottoms of mixed corals and calcareous red algae. Depth range : 0–25 m, but mostly in 0–10 m, Length commonly to : 35 cm, Scientific name: Pearsonothuria graeffei |
 | Brown sandfish | Habitat: Coastal lagoons and inner reef flats, often burrowed in sandy-muddy bottoms. Depth range : 0–20 m, but mostly in 0–10 m, Length commonly to : 32 cm, Scientific name: Bohadschia vitiensis |
 | Brownspotted sandfish | Habitat: Coastal lagoons and inner reef flats, often burrowed in sandy-muddy bottoms. Depth range : 0–3 m, Length commonly to : 18 cm, Scientific name: Bohadschia similis |
 | Curryfish | Habitat: Seagrass beds, rubble and sandy-muddy bottoms. Depth range : 0–25 m, Length commonly to : 35 cm, Scientific name: Stichopus hermanni |
 | Deep-water Redfish | Habitat: Reef flats of fringing and lagoon-islet reefs, seagrass beds, rubble reef flats and compact flats. Depth range : 0–12 m, Length commonly to : 20 cm, Scientific name: Actinopyga echinites |
 | Elephant trunkfish | Habitat: Reef slopes and shallow seagrass beds. Depth range : 0–25 m, Length commonly to : 36 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Microthele) fuscopunctata |
 | Golden sandfish | Habitat: Inner reef flats of coastal lagoons; burrows in mud and sandy-muddy bottoms. Generally deeper than sandfish. Depth range : 0–30 m, Length commonly to : 30 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra var. versicolor |
 | Greenfish | Habitat: Reef flats and upper slopes, mostly on hard substrates. Depth range : 0–15 m, but mostly in 0–5 m, Length commonly to : 18 cm, Scientific name: Stichopus chloronotus |
 | Hairy blackfish | Habitat: Found in high densities in inshore shallow waters and at lower densities in deeper more oceanic-influenced waters. Mostly a nocturnal species. Depth range : 0–15 m, Length commonly to : 25 cm, Scientific name: Actinopyga miliaris |
 | Leopardfish | Habitat: Barrier reef flats and slopes, or outer lagoons on white sand. Depth range : 0–30 m, but mostly in 0–10 m, Length commonly to : 36 cm, Scientific name: Bohadschia argus |
 | Lollyfish | Habitat: Found in high densities in inshore shallow waters and at lower densities in deeper oceanic-influenced waters. Average size of inshore specimens less than those of outer reef specimens (sometimes named “reef lolly”) Depth range : 0–20 m, but mostly in 0–5 m, Length commonly to : 20 cm (inshore), 30 cm (outer reefs), Scientific name: Holothuria (Halodeima) atra |
 | Pinkfish | Habitat: Inner reef flats of fringing and lagoon-islets reefs, and shallow coastal lagoons, sandymuddy grounds with rubble or coral patches. Depth range : 0–30 m, but mostly in 0–10 m, Length commonly to : 20 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis |
 | Prickly redfish | Habitat: Reef slopes and near passes, on hard bottoms with large rubble and coral patches. Depth range : 0–25 m, Length commonly to : 45 cm, Scientific name: Thelenota ananas |
 | Sandfish | Habitat: Inner reef flats of fringing reefs, lagoon-islet reefs, coastal areas affected by sediments, and near mangroves. Depth range : 0–10 m, but mostly in 0–5 m, Length commonly to : 22 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra |
 | Selenka's sea cucumber | Habitat: Rubble or hidden in reef flats; mostly a nocturnal species. Depth range : 0–15 m, Length commonly to : 20 cm, Scientific name: Stichopus horrens |
 | Snakefish | Habitat: Inner and outer reef flats and back reefs or shallow coastal lagoons. Abundant on sandymuddy bottoms with rubble or coral patches and in seagrass beds. Depth range : 0–15 m, but mostly in 0–5 m, Length commonly to : 40 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Acanthotrapeza) coluber |
 | Stonefish | Habitat: Hard substrates. Nocturnal species. In daytime, found under large stones, in gaps in reef slopes or in sheltered areas. Depth range : 0–20 m, but mostly in 0–10 m, Length commonly to : 25 cm, Scientific name: Actinopyga lecanora |
 | Surf redfish | Habitat: Outer reef flats and fringing reefs, mostly in the surf zone. Depth range : 0–20 m, but mostly in 0–5 m, Length commonly to : 20 cm, Scientific name: Actinopyga mauritiana |
 | White teatfish | Habitat: Oceanic influenced lagoons and passes. Depth range : 1–40 m, but mostly in 20+ m, Length commonly to : 42 cm, Scientific name: Holothuria (Microthele) fuscogilva |
Video: Identification of Live Sea Cucumbers
References
- [Alex Videoboy]. (2020, January 1). Sea Cucumber On A Sandy Bottom Among A Coral Reef Bohadschia Argus Underwater On The Ocean Floor [Video]. Storyblocks. Link
- National Geographic (2020, January 1). Sea Cucumbers. National Geographic. Retrieved October 18, 2023, from Link
- [Pacific Community]. (2022, May 4). Sea cucumbers and beche-de-mer in the Pacific Islands: Identifying live sea cucumbers [Video]. Youtube. Link
- SPC (2004). Pacific Island sea cucumber and beche de mer identification cards (1st ed., pp. 1-52). Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Link
- WhitcombeRD (2019). A large Sea Cucumber feeding on the sand of a tropical coral reef [Photograph]. Istockphoto. Link
Author: Fiji Journal
Fiji Journal consists of a small team of creative storytellers, who connect, and inspire independent travelers around the world. We’re obsessed with travel and passionate about helping you explore your curiosity and gain a deeper understanding of Fijian Culture, and Islands. Travel is not just an opportunity for adventure but a way of life.
