Curryfish herrmanni (Stichopus herrmanni)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Holothuroidea · Order: Synallactida · Family: Stichopodidae · Genus: Stichopus.

Accepted name: Stichopus herrmanni · Authority: Semper, 1868 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 210906.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Stichopus variegatus hermanni Semper, 1868; Stichopus variegatus var. herrmanni Semper, 1868.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=210906 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

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

Maximum length: 55 cm · Depth range: 0–30 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 42 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 107901. Occurs in lagoons (Ref. 80735).

Grazes on organic materials (Ref. 800). Associated with coral communities. Conceals itself in crevices and overhangs (Ref. 129602).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 155742) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Stichopus-herrmanni.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,312 georeferenced occurrence records for Stichopus herrmanni are published through GBIF from 37 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 179 distinct locations from a sample of 1,312 records, omitting 32 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 (441); New Caledonia (309); Palau (98); Wallis and Futuna (94); Vanuatu (60).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4343253) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4343253&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=210906 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Stichopus herrmanni Semper, 1868 as Vulnerable (code VU). 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 180238) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/180238/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 4343253) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/4343253/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Stichopus herrmanni is a large species of sea cucumber, growing up to 50 cm long. The body is cylindrical with a flat sole.

The body wall is rough and wrinkled, without large swellings but with orange-brown papillae (conical fleshy protuberances). The mouth is surrounded by eight to sixteen feeding tentacles and the sole bears short tube feet. The colour is variable, in some locations being greyish-brown, greenish-brown, or sandy-brown, while in others being mustard-yellow, orange-brown or green and brown.

Stichopus herrmanni is found in the tropical west Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from the east coast of Africa to Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. It occurs on sand and mud substrates, seagrass meadows and rubble at depths down to about 25 m.

There is a commercial fishery for this species in Indonesia and northern Australia. It is known as "curryfish", but this name encompasses several species, S. herrmanni, Stichopus vastus and Stichopus ocellatus and landings of the three species are recorded as one. At one time, this species was not harvested because the flesh easily disintegrated, but modern processing methods provide better handling and it has now become a high value product. In Queensland, a minimum length of 35 cm is in force.

Although the population of S. herrmanni is stable in Australia, elsewhere fishing pressure is causing declines in its populations over most of its range. As a result of overfishing of more desirable species, this species is likely to face greater exploitation, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "vulnerable". This species occurs in several protected areas over its range, including the Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve in Lakshwadeep, India.

Source: Wikipedia: Stichopus herrmanni — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stichopus_herrmanni (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.