Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothurian (/ˌhɒləˈθjʊəriən, ˌhoʊ-/) species worldwide is about 1,717 with the greatest number being in the Asia Pacific region. Many of these are gathered for human consumption and some species are cultivated in aquaculture systems. The harvested product is variously referred to as trepang, namako, bêche-de-mer or balate. Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter after which bacteria can continue the degradation process. Learn more about Sea cucumber
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Sea Cucumber Species Videos
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Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Amberfish Sea Cucumber (9 videos) | Thelenota anax | Not Available |
Blackspotted Sea Cucumber (24 videos) | Pearsonothuria graeffei | Not Available |
Blue Sea Cucumber (2 videos) | Actinopyga caerulea | Not Available |
Candycane Sea Cucumber (7 videos) | Thelenota rubralineata | Not Available |
Conspicuous Sea Cucumber (4 videos) | Opheodesoma spectabilis | Not Available |
Curryfish (3 videos) | Stichopus herrmanni | Not Available |
Dragonfish Sea Cucumber (3 videos) | Stichopus horrens | Not Available |
Holothuria Argus (2 videos) | Holothuria argus | Not Available |
Holothuria Atra (1 videos) | Holothuria atra | Not Available |
Holothuria Mexicana (9 videos) | Holothuria mexicana | Not Available |
Holothuria Tubulosa (1 videos) | Holothuria tubulosa | Not Available |
Lampert's Sea Cucumber (7 videos) | Synaptula lamperti | Not Available |
Leopard Sea Cucumber (6 videos) | Bohadschia argus | Not Available |
Lion's Paw Sea Cucumber (14 videos) | Euapta godeffroyi | Not Available |
Magnum Sea Cucumber (8 videos) | Massinium magnum | Not Available |
Night-wandering Sea Cucumber (1 videos) | Stichopus noctivagus | Not Available |
Pinkfish Sea Cucumber (2 videos) | Holothuria (halodeima) edulis | Not Available |
Prickly Redfish (11 videos) | Thelenota ananas | Not Available |
Sea Cucumber (476 videos) | Bohadschia maculisparsa | Not Available |
Spotted Worm Sea Cucumber (9 videos) | Synapta maculata | Not Available |
Stichopus Regalis (2 videos) | Stichopus regalis | Not Available |
Three-rowed Sea Cucumber (3 videos) | Isostichopus badionotus | Not Available |
Warty Sea Cucumber (3 videos) | Apostichopus parvimensis | Not Available |
White Teatfish Sea Cucumber (2 videos) | Holothuria (microthele) fuscogilva | Not Available |
Yellow Sea Cucumber (4 videos) | Colochirus robustus | Not Available |