Giant Black Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pearsonothuria graeffei
- Common name
- Giant Black Sea Cucumber
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Holothuriidae
- Genus
- Pearsonothuria
- Size
- 25–50 cm
- Depth
- 10–60 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, sandy-bottom
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Pearsonothuria graeffei reaches 50 cm. Giant sea cucumber (Holothuriidae) from Indo-Pacific tropics. Dark black-gray, very corpulent massive contractile body. Reef-sand inhabitant 10-60 m. Slow benthic microphage: ingests sediment-rich organic matter. Minimally threatened = LC. Observable on coastal reef.
Photo of Giant Black Sea Cucumber
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Giant Black Sea Cucumber?
- Giant Black Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei) reaches 25–50 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Giant Black Sea Cucumber?
- Giant Black Sea Cucumber is found between 10–60 m deep.
- Is the Giant Black Sea Cucumber dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Giant Black Sea Cucumber?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Giant Black Sea Cucumber?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the family Holothuriidae
- Holothuria tubulosa - Tubular sea cucumber
- Holothuria forskali - Cotton-spinner
- Bohadschia argus - Leopard sea cucumber
- Holothuria atra - Black sea cucumber
- Holothuria edulis - Pink sea cucumber
- Holothuria fuscogilva - White teatfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 210772)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4343080)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia