White teatfish

Holothuria fuscogilva

The white teatfish is a large tropical sea cucumber from the Indo-Pacific. It crawls across reef sediments and processes organic material through its digestive tract.

Not a fish · an aquatic neighbor

Water

Saltwater

Shallow tropical reef flats, lagoons, sandy bottoms, and seagrass-associated habitats.

Temperature

Range not established

A dependable species-specific wild temperature range was not established from the reviewed sources.

Size

Up to about 40 cm (16 in) long

About as long as a school ruler.

Lifespan

Not established in the wild

Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.

01 · Signature adaptation

What does it do?

It moves slowly over reef sediments and is most active while feeding. Like other sea cucumbers, it helps mix and oxygenate the upper seafloor.

Its superpowerIt recycles nutrients by turning sediment and organic debris into biologically useful waste.

02 · Home coordinates

Where does it live?

Tropical Indo-Pacific waters, including reefs of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Regions: western Indian Ocean · central Indo-Pacific · western Pacific

03 · The menu

What does it eat?

Tentacles gather sediment from the seafloor, and the gut extracts usable organic matter.

Deposit feeder: organic-rich sediment, detritus, microalgae.

04 · Remember this

Two wow facts

Sediment recycler

Its feeding and digestion help process organic material in reef sediments.

Sources [1]

Trade pressure

Teatfish species have been included in international trade-management discussions because of heavy exploitation.

Sources [1]