Authors: D.C.T. Dissanayake and G. Nishanthan Publication Year: 2016 Copyright: USJP and NRC 15-050, 2016 ISBN 978-955-0263-07-3 This is a product of NRC Grant 15-50 and this is not for sale

1. D.C.T. Dissanayake and G. Nishanthan
2016

2. The taxonomy of sea cucumbers is fairly complex and identification of processed sea cucumbers (Bêche-de-mer) to
the species level is a challenging task. Therefore, the government officials of Sri Lanka Custom, Sri Lanka Navy,
Sri Lanka Police, Coast Guard and Ministry of Fisheries are frequently facing difficulties when such products
are exported, valuated and subjected to other legal procedures. Subsequently, this has led to many problems
such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) trade and overexploitation of this valuable marine resource.
We produced this booklet in order to overcome the difficulties faced by government officials in identifying sea
cucumber species accurately. This booklet is an illustrative guide to identify live and processed forms of 16
commercially exploited sea cucumber species of Sri Lanka.
For further information contact :
D.C.T. Dissanayake (PhD)
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura,
Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
E mail: chamari@sjp.ac.lk Contact: +94 112 758 448
Layout and Design: Mr. G. Nishanthan, Postgraduate Research Student- NRC 15-50
Acknowledgements to Mr. P.A.D. Ajith Kumara, Senior Scientist, National Aquatic Resources Research and
Development Agency (NARA), Colombo 15 and Mr. Y.N. Kasturiarachchi, Manager Export, Suganth
International Pvt. Ltd., Colombo 15, Sri Lanka for their valuable support.
ISBN : 978-955-0263-07-3
This booklet is a product of research study conducted at the Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura under
the financial assistance of National Research Council (Grant No: NRC 15 -50), Sri Lanka

3. Introduction
1
Sea cucumbers are members of the Class Holothuroidea of the Phylum Echinodermata.
They have a soft, cylindrical body, elongated along an axis from mouth to anus. Around 650
sea cucumber species have been identified in various parts of the world. Sea cucumbers are
usually benthic and mainly feed on decaying organic materials. They play an important
ecological role in marine ecosystem as suspension feeders, detritivores and prey. In addition,
sea cucumber fishing and trading is imperative for many rural coastal communities as the
main source of income.
Body wall is the main edible part of a sea cucumber and it is consumed either raw or after
very simple preparation. Processed body wall of sea cucumbers is known as bêche-de-mer or
‘trepang’ and it is an ideal tonic food in most cultures in the East and Southeast Asia. The
market demand for bêche-de-mer mainly depends on species, size, shape, appearance, colour,
odour, packing and moisture content. A wealth of potential medicinal compounds have also
been extracted from sea cucumbers.
Around 16 commercially important sea cucumber species are currently exploited in the
coastal waters of Sri Lanka through skin and SCUBA diving. Although sea cucumber fishery
has been practiced for several centuries, there is no tradition of consuming sea cucumbers in
Sri Lanka.

4. 2
The entire production is processed as bêche-de-mer and exported to Singapore, Taiwan and
China. As processed sea cucumbers are highly valuable export product of Sri Lanka, thye
are frequently subjected for smuggling and illegal trade. Government officials who regulate
sea cucumber fishing and trading often face difficulties while identifying sea cucumbers
accurately to the species level due to lack of proper identification guides.
This booklet summarizes key features of 16 fresh and processed sea cucumber species which
are commercially exploited and exported from Sri Lanka. Therefore, we believe this booklet
will be useful for fishery managers, scientists, trade officers, law enforcement officials and
for all who engage in the sea cucumber fishing industry to identify fresh and processed sea
cucumbers to the species level.

5. 3
The majority of commercially harvested sea cucumbers of Sri Lanka belong to the order
Aspidochirotida. Taxonomic classification and specific characteristic of families and genera of
commercial sea cucumbers are given here.
Order Aspidochirotida
Family Stichopodidae
Bohadschia StichopusActinopyga ThelenotaHolothuria
Family Holothuriidae
Very thick body
wall
Regularly arranged
short podia on
ventral surface
Ventrally located
mouth with 20-30
tentacles
Terminal anus
with five calcified
anal teeth
Thin or thick body
wall
Irregularly arranged
ventral podia and 5
groups of papillae
Ventrally located
mouth with 20-25
tentacles
Eject white colour
cuvierian tubules
(sticky threads) when
disturbed
Thick or thin body wall
Irregularly arranged
podia on the dorsal
surface and scattered
papillae on the ventral
surface
Ventrally located
mouth with a collar of
papillae and 20 grey
tentacles
Terminal anus with a
circle of five groups of
radial papillae
Soft and
quadrangular body
Thick tubercles and
papillae on the body
Ventrally located
mouth with conical
papillae or 18-20
tentacles
Terminal anus with
or without large
papillae
Massive sea
cucumbers with
quadrangular body
and thick tegument
Flat ventral surface
covered with
numerous aligned
podia
Ventrally located
mouth with 18-20
tentacles
Terminal or sub-
dorsal anus

6. 4
Key to use this guide
External anatomical features of a sea cucumber

7. 5
Value : ★ (Low) / ★ ★ (Medium) / ★ ★ ★ (High)

8. Actinopyga echinites Deep-water redfish
S - ග ොම අට්ටයො T - rhzpal;il
6
• Rough and slightly ridged, dark brown
colour, elongated, cylindrical body
• Slightly arched dorsal surface and
flattened ventral surface with numerous
podia
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 stout,
brown colour tentacles
• Five small yellow conical teeth around the
anus

9. 7
Value : ★ ★
• Oval shape body with arched dorsal
surface, flattened ventral surface and
rounded ends
• Rough and slightly ridged, dark brown
dorsal surface
• Light brown, granular ventral
surface
• Small cut across the anus
Actinopygaechinites

10. Actinopyga mauritiana Surf redfish
S - දුඹුරු ල් අට්ටයො T - ghwl;il
8
• Stout cylindrical body with slightly
arched, wrinkled dorsal surface,
flattened ventral surface and mildly
tapered ends
• Brown to reddish colour dorsal surface
with white patches
• Cream to light brown ventral surface
• Ventrally located mouth with 25 short
and stout brown colour tentacles
• Five small whitish teeth around the anus

11. 9
Actinopygamauritiana
• Elongated oval shape body with arched
dorsal surface and moderately flattened
ventral surface
• Dark brown colour dorsal surface with
white spots and numerous small groves
• Cream to light brown, granular
ventral surface
• Small cut on the ventral surface
Value : ★ ★

12. Actinopyga miliaris Hairy blackfish
S - කළු ල් අට්ටයො T - ghwl;il
10
• Uniformly black, stout cylindrical body
• Slightly arched dorsal surface and
flattened ventral surface
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 stout,
black colour tentacles
• Five small yellow conical teeth around
the anus

13. 11
Actinopygamiliaris
• Roughly oval shape body with slightly
arched dorsal surface and flattened
ventral surface
• Uniformly black, smooth dorsal
and ventral surfaces
• Small cut across the anus
Value : ★ ★

14. Bohadschia marmorata Brown-spotted sandfish
S - දුඹුරු නූල් අට්ටයො T - fUg;G E}yl;il
12
• Cylindrical body with flattened ventral
surface and mildly tapered ends
• Brown colour dorsal surface with dark
brown blotches
• Cream to light brown colour ventral
surface with long slender podia
• Dorsally located large anus
• Eject white sticky cuvierian tubules when
disturbed

15. 13
Bohadschiamarmorata
• Ventrally flattened narrow cylindrical
body
• Dark brown to black colour dorsal
surface with groves
• Cream to light brown colour ventral
surface
• Small cut across the anus
Value : ★

16. Bohadschia sp. (Unknown) Not yet Named
S - සුදු නූල් අට්ටයො T - nts;is E}yl;il
14
• Cylindrical body with flattened ventral
surface and mildly tapered ends
• Light brown colour dorsal surface with
dark brown blotches
• Cream to white colour ventral surface
• Dorsally located large anus
• Eject white sticky cuvierian tubules when
disturbed

17. 15
Bohadschiasp.(Unknown)
• Ventrally flattened, narrow, cylindrical
body
• Light brown colour dorsal surface with
dark brown blotches
• Cream to white colour ventral
surface
• Small cut across the anus
Value : ★

18. Bohadschia vitiensis Brown sandfish
S - කිරි නූල් අට්ටයො T - gPE}yl;il
16
• Stout cylindrical body with arched dorsal
surface and flattened ventral surface
• Yellow to brown colour dorsal surface
with numerous brown spots
• Cream to white colour ventral surface
with a centrally located grove
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 short,
yellow colour tentacles
• Sub dorsally located large anus
• Eject white sticky cuvierian tubules when
disturbed

19. 17
Bohadschiavitiensis
• Cylindrical body with arched dorsal
surface and moderately flattened ventral
surface
• Brown to brown-black colour dorsal
surface
• Cream to white colour ventral
surface with a centrally located
grove
• Small cut across the anus
Value : ★

20. Holothuria atra Lollyfish
S - නරි අට්ටයො T - eupal;il
18
• Uniformly black, elongated cylindrical
body with rounded ends
• Ventrally located mouth with black
colour tentacles
• No teeth or papillae around the anus
• Live specimens secrete red fluids when they
are handled

21. 19
Holothuriaatra
• Narrow cylindrical body with rounded
ends
• Black colour dorsal and ventral surfaces
• Very smooth body but transverse
wrinkles in large specimens
• Small cut across the anus or
occasionally, no cut
Value : ★

22. Holothuria fuscogilva White teatfish
S - ප්‍රීමො අට්ටයො T - gpupkh ml;il
20
• Sub-oval, stout, firm and rigid body
• Arched dorsal surface and flattened
ventral surface
• Light brown colour dorsal surface with
beige or white blotches along the lateral
sides
• Grey to brown colour ventral surface
• 6 - 8 lateral protrusions (teat /papillae)
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 stout, grey
colour tentacles
• Inconspicuous calcareous teeth around the
yellow colour anus

23. 21
Holothuriafuscogilva
• Flat and stout body with distinct teats
along sides
• Body with different shades of grey-brown
colour
• Slightly wrinkled, smooth body
• Single cut in the middle of dorsal
body surface
Value : ★ ★ ★

24. Holothuria nobilis Black teatfish
S - ග ොළඟො අට්ටයො T - nghyq;fh ml;il
22
• Sub-oval, stout, very firm and rigid body
• Arched dorsal surface and strongly
flattened ventral surface
• Dark brown colour dorsal surface with
distinct light brown to orange lateral
patches
• Grey to brown colour ventral surface
• 6 - 8 lateral protrusions (teat /papillae)
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 stout
tentacles
• Five small calcareous teeth around the
anus

25. 23
Holothurianobilis
• Flat and stout body with distinct teats
along sides
• Slightly wrinkled, smooth body
• Grey to brown colour dorsal surface with
distinct dark patches
• Dirty grey colour ventral surface
• Single cut in the middle of dorsal
body surface
Value : ★ ★ ★

26. Holothuria sp 1. (type ‘Pentard’) Flower teatfish
S - ප්‍රීමො බතික් අට්ටයො T - gpupkh gjpf; ml;il
24
• Stout, firm and rigid body
• Arched dorsal surface and flattened
ventral surface
• Dark brown dorsal surface mottled with
cream colour, irregular shape blotches
• Grey to brown colour ventral surface
• 6 - 8 lateral protrusions (teat /papillae)

27. 25
Holothuriasp1.(type‘Pentard’)
• Flat and stout body with distinct teats
along sides
• Slightly wrinkled smooth body
• Dark brown dorsal surface mottled with
light colour, irregular shape blotches
• Grey colour ventral surface
• Single cut in the middle of dorsal
body surface
Value : ★ ★ ★

28. Holothuria scabra Sandfish
S - ජැෆ්නො අට්ටයො T - nts;sl;il
26
• Oval body with arched dorsal surface
and moderately flattened ventral surface
• Dark grey to black colour dorsal surface
with white or yellow transverse stripes
• White or light grey colour ventral surface
with fine black dots
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 small
grey colour tentacles
• No calcareous teeth around the anus

29. 27
Holothuriascabra
• Cylindrical body with bluntly curved
ends
• Black colour dorsal surface with deep
transverse wrinkles
• Light brown colour ventral surface
• Small cut across the anus
Value : ★ ★ ★

30. Holothuria spinifera Brownfish
S - ඩිස්ගකෝ අට්ටයො / වැලි අට්ටයො T - b];Nfh ml;il
28
• Cylindrical body with numerous, small,
sharp, projections
• Brown colour dorsal surface
• Light brown colour ventral surface
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 small
tentacles

31. 29
Holothuriaspinifera
• Cylindrical body with rounded ends
• Light brown colour rough dorsal surface
• Light brown colour smooth ventral
surface
• Small cut across the anus or
occasionally, no cut
Value : ★

32. Stichopus chloronotus Greenfish
S - දඹල අට්ටයො T - jk;gsh ml;il
30
• Ventrally flattened, firm and rigid body
• Dark green to black colour body
• Rows of long, conical papillae with yellow
tips on both sides of the dorsal surface
and along lower lateral margins of the
body
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 stout,
white or grey colour tentacles
• Five large papillae around the anus

33. 31
Stichopuschloronotus
• Moderately elongated dark black to
brown colour body
• Four edges of the body is covered with
pointed wart-like projections
• No cuts or small cut across the anus
• Small and regularly arranged ventral
podia
Value : ★

34. Stichopus naso Selenka’s sea cucumber
S - ොවක්කො අට්ටයො T - Ks;sl;il
32
• Slightly arched dorsal surface with squat,
wart like papillae
• Yellowish- tan colour dorsal surface
mottled with light brown
• Numerous large podia in ventral surface
arranged in longitudinal rows
• A brown central longitudinal band runs
between the rows of podia
• Tips of podia and dorsal papillae are
dark brown
• Ventrally located mouth with 18 - 20
tentacles
• No papillae around the anus

35. 33
Stichopusnaso
• Slender and quadrangular body
• Uniformly brown body colour
• Wart-like bumps on dorsal surface and
prominent lateral papillae on ventral
margin
• Large and irregularly arranged
ventral podia
• No cuts or small cut across the
anus
Value : ★

36. Thelenota ananas Prickly redfish
S - අන්නොසි අට්ටයො T - md;dhrp ml;il
34
• Firm and rigid body with slightly arched
dorsal surface and flattened ventral
surface
• Reddish to brown colour dorsal surface
with very long, conical shaped, slightly
branched large papillae
• Light pink to red colour ventral surface
with brown to pink podia
• Ventrally located mouth with 20 large
brown tentacles and conical papillae
• Large papillae around the anus

37. 35
Thelenotaananas
• Brown to black colour elongated body
• Numerous brown to black spikes on
dorsal surface
• Light brown, granular ventral
surface
• A cut along the ventral surface
Value : ★

38. Thelenota anax Amber fish
S - පූනො අට්ටයො T - ©id ml;il
36
• Firm and rigid body with flat ventral
surface
• Cream colour dorsal surface with large
beige spots, blotches and numerous
light colour wart-like bumps
• A row of large papillae demarcated dorsal
surface from ventral surface
• Ventrally located mouth with 18 – 20
tentacles
• Terminal anus covered by large papillae

39. 37
Thelenotaanax
• Variously shaded light brown body
• Rough dorsal surface with wart like
bumps
• Grainy ventral surface
• A small cut across the anus
Value : ★ ★

40.  Copyright : USJP and NRC 15-050, 2016