Stichopus

Stichopus is a genus of sea cucumbers belonging to the family Stichopodidae. These animals are relatively large; for instance, S. vastus can grow to 40–50 centimeters in length. Their bodies are soft and quadrangular, with thick tubercles covering all four sides.

Coloration varies widely both between and within species. S. rubermaculosus ranges from light yellow to dark green with multicolored patches, while S. chloronotus is black with green or blue tints and orange-tipped tubercles. S. vastus has yellow and green zebra stripes, resembling a giant caterpillar.

The number of species in the genus is debated. Around 20 were described by 1922, but current estimates range from about 8 to 14. Some species have been moved to other genera, such as Apostichopus and Isostichopus.

Stichopus is frequently exploited for food and medicine. In Malaysia, species known as gamat are used to make tonics called “gamat water” and “gamat oil,” applied to wounds, gastric ulcers, and pain. S. horrens is fished as gamat and also harvested for food in Samoa. There, the edible parts are the viscera, especially the intestine.

A fisher places the cucumber in a bucket for a few hours to clear sand from its gut, then cuts out the intestine and sometimes the respiratory system and gonads, releasing the still-living animal. The viscera are eaten raw or bottled and sold; most cucumbers survive this process, at least temporarily. S. monotuberculatus is used for both food and medicine. A small fishery for S. herrmanni collapsed due to overfishing.

Recognized species include: Stichopus chloronotus, S. fusiformiossa, S. herrmanni, S. horrens, S. monotuberculatus, S. naso, S. noctivagus, S. ocellatus, S. pseudohorrens, S. quadrifasciatus, S. rubermaculosus, and S. vastus.