Stichopus herrmanni

Stichopus herrmanni, also called Herrmann's sea cucumber, belongs to the family Stichopodidae. This large species can reach 50 cm in length.

Its body is cylindrical with a flat underside, and the rough, wrinkled body wall lacks large swellings but has orange-brown conical bumps. Around the mouth are eight to sixteen feeding tentacles, and the sole has short tube feet. Coloration varies by location, ranging from greyish-brown, greenish-brown, or sandy-brown to mustard-yellow, orange-brown, or green and brown.

The species lives in the tropical western Indo-Pacific, from the east coast of Africa to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia. It inhabits sand and mud bottoms, seagrass beds, and rubble at depths up to about 25 m.

Commercially, it is harvested in Indonesia and northern Australia. Known as "curryfish," this name also covers Stichopus vastus and Stichopus ocellatus, and catches of all three are recorded together. Earlier, the flesh was not collected because it disintegrated easily, but modern processing has made it a high-value product. In Queensland, a minimum harvest length of 35 cm is required.

While the Australian population remains stable, fishing pressure elsewhere is causing declines across most of its range. Overfishing of more desirable species may increase exploitation of this one, leading the IUCN to classify it as vulnerable. It is found in several protected areas, including the Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve in Lakshwadeep, India.