Isostichopus badionotus

The chocolate chip cucumber, also known as the cookie dough sea cucumber, is a species from the Stichopodidae family. It is a common inhabitant of the warm Atlantic Ocean.

This large sea cucumber can reach 45 cm (1 ft 6 in) in length, though adults average around 21 cm (8 in). Its back features three rough rows of distinctive dark warts, while the rest of the body ranges from white to shades of orange or brown, sometimes with large brownish stains. The mouth is on the underside and is surrounded by roughly 20 large tentacles.

This species is widespread across the warm Atlantic, from North Carolina (USA) through the Caribbean to northern Brazil, and also at Ascension Island and in the Gulf of Guinea. It lives in shallow waters at depths from 0 to 55 m (0–180 ft), on various seafloor types including sand, mud, rock, and among seaweeds.

Like other tropical sea cucumbers, it is dioecious. Males and females release their gametes into the water, where external fertilization occurs. A study in the Caribbean noted that reproductive activity increases with rising temperatures.

As bottom feeders, these animals are threatened by contaminated substrates, particularly from metals left by boats. They are also popular in Asian cuisine, which puts them at risk from illegal fishing and trafficking.