Invertebrate

Golden Sandfish

Holothuria scabra

Also known as Sandfish, Bêche-de-mer

Golden sandfish spend their days plowing through shallow tropical sediments, ingesting silt to digest microalgae and detritus while leaving behind clean, oxygenated sand. They follow a synchronized daily routine of burrowing into the sediment in the morning and emerging in the afternoon to feed and broadcast spawn. Driven by intense commercial demand in the luxury bêche-de-mer market, wild populations across the Indo-Pacific have suffered catastrophic declines.

MarineInvertebrateBenthic

—observations

—countries

—peak records

EndangeredConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyBenthic diatoms, Organic detritus, Marine bacteria

Predators

Giant triton snail
Loggerhead sea turtle
Blue swimming crab

ThreatsIntense overharvesting for the seafood trade, habitat loss, and coastal pollution

HabitatsShallow coastal lagoons, seagrass meadows, and muddy sand flats

Life span10–15 years

Classification

FamilyHolothuriidae
SpeciesHolothuria scabra

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice: Recognizable by its thick, loaf-like grey or black upper body with dark transverse wrinkles, speckled white underside, and a light dusting of sand.
Support conservation: Leave wild individuals completely undisturbed in their sediment beds and report suspected illegal harvesting within marine sanctuaries.

Responsible observation

Tread carefully: Watch your footing in shallow seagrass beds to avoid crushing burrowed individuals.
Do not touch: Handling induces extreme stress, causing the animal to expel internal organs or toxins.
Support protection: Avoid purchasing dried wild bêche-de-mer to help combat illegal harvesting.

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