Holothuria fuscogilva
A commercially valuable sea cucumber vulnerable to overfishing in the Indo-Pacific.
Holothuria fuscogilva, called the white teatfish or white teeth, belongs to the genus Holothuria and the subgenus Microthele. This sea cucumber lives in the tropical Indo-Pacific, in shallow waters near islands and coral reefs. Juveniles stay in shallower areas like intertidal zones, then move to deeper water as they grow. Spawning takes place during the Northeastern Monsoon, from October to December, and the species reaches sexual maturity relatively late. Adults weigh between 2.4 and 4 kilograms, are oval and firm, and have lateral papillae, or teats, that are often buried in sand. The species is widely harvested for food and has high commercial value; collectors can gather them by hand using a diving suit or while skin diving, making them easy to overharvest. Overfishing has made the species vulnerable, and it was listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2026. A large population once existed in Sri Lanka, but decades of overfishing and mismanagement caused a major decline, leading Sri Lanka to ban harvesting in 2019.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Holothuria
- Species
- fuscogilva
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Holothuria fuscogilva was first formally named by Gustave Cherbonnier in 1980. The species is found in the Indo-Pacific ocean in shallow waters near islands and around coral reefs. Juvenile cucumbers live in shallower waters, such as inter-tidal zones, and then migrate to deeper waters as they mature. Spawning occurs during the Northeastern Monsoon season from October to December, and the species reaches sexual maturity relatively late.
Adult cucumbers weigh between 2.4 and 4 kilograms and are oval in shape with a firm texture. They have lateral papillae (teats) which are often buried in the sand. The cucumber is consumed as a food and is of large commercial value across its range. It can be collected by hand using a diving suit or while skin diving, allowing for easy harvesting.
Due to overfishing, the cucumber was listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2026. A large population formerly existed in Sri Lanka, but decades of overfishing and mismanagement caused a large decline in the species' numbers. Sri Lanka banned the harvesting of the species in 2019.
Reader's Guide
Holothuria fuscogilva holds significant commercial value as a food species across its Indo-Pacific range, which has driven intensive harvesting. Its ease of collection—by hand using a diving suit or skin diving—has made it particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation. The species' vulnerability is underscored by its listing as endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2026, a direct result of overfishing. A notable example of this decline occurred in Sri Lanka, where a formerly large population was severely reduced by decades of overfishing and mismanagement, leading to a ban on harvesting the species in 2019. The species' late sexual maturity further compounds its vulnerability, as populations cannot quickly recover from heavy fishing pressure. Its spawning season, confined to the Northeastern Monsoon months of October to December, also limits reproductive opportunities. The combination of high demand, easy capture, and slow life history traits makes Holothuria fuscogilva a key case study in the need for sustainable management of marine resources.
More in Sea Cucumbers and Brittle Stars, Part 2 1-24
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