Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Holothuroidea · Order: Holothuriida · Family: Holothuriidae · Genus: Holothuria.

Accepted name: Holothuria edulis · Authority: Lesson, 1830 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1672771.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Halodeima edulis (Lesson, 1830); Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis Lesson, 1830; Holothuria (Thyone) edulis Lesson, 1830; Holothuria albida Bell, 1887.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1672771 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Holothuria edulis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 35 cm · Common length: 20 cm · Depth range: 0–45 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Vulnerability index: 25 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

SeaLifeBase notes: Not processed product looks similar to that of Holothuria atra and is of low commercial value. A common shallow water species; mostly on inner and outer flats of coastal reefs, back reefs, or shallow coastal lagoons; specimens from barrier reefs have been reported to have a brown bivium and whitish trivium. Most abundant on sandy-muddy grounds with rubble or coral patches and in seagrass beds (Refs. 122, 129602). Also common on sandy-silt sand mixed with coral rubble (Ref. 92930) and those with fine and coarse sand on seagrass (Ref. 129602). Mean population density around 0.1 per square meter or not exceeding 0.1 per square meter (Ref. 122).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 83486) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Holothuria-edulis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,645 georeferenced occurrence records for Holothuria edulis are published through GBIF from 43 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 269 distinct locations from a sample of 2,645 records, omitting 48 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (408); New Caledonia (391); Palau (283); Indonesia (264); Fiji (245).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4343017) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4343017&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1672771 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 180400) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/180400/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 4343017) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/4343017/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Holothuria edulis is a medium-sized sea cucumber reaching a length of about 30 cm. It has a roughly cylindrical shape with rounded ends but can retract and expand its body and adopt different shapes. It is usually soft and pliable with a smooth skin but, due to the special characteristics of its connective tissue, it can become firm and rigid. The body is lined with longitudinal rows of small tube feet which can be withdrawn into the body wall, leaving small hollows. About twenty tube feet in a ring round the mouth are modified into feeding tentacles. This sea cucumber is usually a dark reddish-black colour on its upper side and a pinkish-mauve colour below, but can be grey or dark brown.

Holothuria edulis is a common and widespread species in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It lives on the seabed at depths down to 20 m. Its range extends from the Red Sea and East African coast to Sri Lanka, Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, northern Australia and various Pacific islands. It is found in a number of different habitats including on sandy or muddy substrates, on coral rubble and in seagrass meadows. It can be found on inner and outer reef flats, on back reef slopes and in lagoons.

Holothuria edulis is mainly nocturnal and tends to hide during the day under rocks or pieces of coral. It is a detritivore and feeds by ingesting sand and debris which has accumulated on the seabed which it picks up using its feeding tentacles. Sand is pushed into the mouth and any organic matter present, including the biofilm round the grains, is digested as the sand passes through the gut. The indigestible matter is expelled from the anus leaving a sand ridge as the animal moves around. During its feeding activities, the sea cucumber churns up the top few centimetres of seabed and aerates the sediment.

Locomotion in Holothuria edulis is very slow. It moves mainly by peristaltic action of its body wall, assisted to a limited extent by its tube feet. It can also anchor its feeding tentacles into the sand and haul itself along. If it gets overturned, it can use its feeding tentacles to help right itself.

Holothuria edulis has separate sexes and spawns at any time of year with gametes being liberated into the water column. The larvae are planktonic. This sea cucumber can also reproduce asexually by breaking into two parts, each of which then regrows the missing organs.

As its name implies, Holothuria edulis is edible. It is dried and sold as "bêche-de-mer" or "trepang" in China and Indonesia.

Holothuria edulis is common in the aquarium trade for its colors and its ability to eat detritus. It needs a tank size of 50 USgal or more. It is easy to care for but may release a toxin when stressed, although this only happens very rarely.

Source: Wikipedia: Holothuria edulis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holothuria_edulis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.