Species · GBIF taxon 2279167
Black Sea Cucumber
Holothuria atraAlso known as Lollyfish
Black sea cucumbers are sausage-shaped marine invertebrates that slowly vacuum the sandy seafloor of tropical reefs. They often coat themselves in a thin layer of sand for sun protection and camouflage, leaving only distinctive bare black spots exposed. When threatened, they secrete a toxic red fluid containing holothurin to deter predators.
MarineReef-DwellerDetritivore
Licensed referencePhilippe Bourjon / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Organic detritus, microalgae, and sand-associated microbes
- family
- Holothuriidae
- threats
- Overharvesting for the luxury seafood trade, habitat degradation, and ocean acidification
- life Span
- 5 to 10 years
LC
Releases toxic holothurin when stressed, which irritates skin and eyes; avoid handling.
Secretes a toxic chemical called holothurin when stressed, which causes painful skin irritation and can lead to blindness if rubbed into the eyes.
Observe these creatures without touching; if accidental contact occurs, wash hands immediately and do not touch your eyes.- Look for sand coatings: Spot them by looking for sausage-shaped mounds of sand with distinct black patches where the sand did not stick.
- Observe from above: Watch their slow feeding movements through clear, shallow water without disturbing the substrate.
- Do not touch: Avoid picking them up to prevent them from expelling toxic fluids or stress-induced self-evisceration.