Greenfish - Sea Cucumber

Scientific Name: Stichopus chloronotus

Species: Stichopodidae

Other Names: Tripang, Stichopus chloronotus, Green Sea Cucumber, Spiky Sea Cucumber, Black Knobby Sea Cucumber, Black Cucumber, Greenfish Cucumber, Green Fish.

Description

Greenfish is a type of echinoderm which belongs to the class Holothuroidea, or more commonly known as the sea cucumbers. Sea cucumbers are soft bodied marine animals shaped like a common-garden cucumber. Despite this, the two are not related to one another. Sea cucumbers are typically found in tropical areas throughout the world; however, their whereabouts and dwellings are not limited to these specific locations. Some species of sea cucumbers are even capable of living in areas around Antarctica.  In addition to this, sea cucumbers contain microscopic skeletal ossicles that make up a latticed support structure referred to as an endoskeleton. This unique feature of an endoskeleton is what classifies sea -cucumbers under the phylum Echinoderms, which means "spiny skinned".

  Stichopus chloronotus is usually found in the Indo-Pacific region of the world and lives mainly on and around coral reefs. Although sea cucumbers have been found to be a variety of colors, Stichopus chloronotus usually varies from a dark green to black color with rows of short  orange or red tipped papillae along its sides. A large industry has been built around Stichopus chloronotus and many other sea cucumbers, mainly in the Indo-Pacific region, where they are used as food and for their medicinal properties. All of the sea cucumbers in this industry are often referred to as “Trepang” by the Chinese, or beche-de-mer in other areas.bêche-de-mer has been harvested for markets in the Indo-Pacific region for over a thousand years. This strong demand for the echinoderm has led to many cases of overfishing and has begun to worry many about the remaining populations. 

Depth Range: 1-10m

Maximum Length: 30cm

Distribution: Widespread Indo-Pacific

Habitat: Found singly on reef flats and in lagoons among st sand and rubble areas.They feed on plankton.