Invertebrate
Stubborn Sea Cucumber
Holothuria pervicaxThe stubborn sea cucumber creeps along tropical Indo-Pacific reef flats, wedging itself tightly under coral slabs and rubble by day. It sifts organic detritus and benthic microalgae from sandy sediments, helping recycle marine nutrients across reef ecosystems. When disturbed, it adheres strongly to the substrate and can discharge sticky defensive Cuvierian tubules.
MarineReef DwellerDetritivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyOrganic detritus, Benthic diatoms, Decomposing plant matter
Predators
- Sea stars
- Triggerfish
- Large crabs
ThreatsHabitat degradation, coastal pollution, ocean acidification
HabitatsCoral reefs, rocky rubble, shallow lagoons
Life span5–10 years
Classification
- OrderHolothuriida
- FamilyHolothuriidae
- GenusHolothuria
- SpeciesHolothuria pervicax
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Reef Etiquette: Avoid overturning coral rubble or attempting to pull individuals from crevices.
- Tide Pool Searching: Check shaded sandy pockets beneath dead coral boulders on low tide flats.
- Hands Off: Leaving them submerged avoids triggering stressful defensive organ discharge.
Image unavailableReef Neighbor 
Predator (c) AntanO, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Philippe Bourjon / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Philippe Bourjon, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Coral Currents
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