Holothuria (Halodeima) atra in situ (Photo: WA Museum)

Blackfish

Holothuria (Halodeima) atra

All black in colour and often covered with sand, sometimes smaller individuals will leave small areas of skin uncovered. Cylindrical, soft and pliable. Tegument smooth.  

Morphology

Black feeding tentacles; spicules tables with reduced discs, moderate spire with "maltese cross" and rosettes.

Behaviour

On sand of intertidal and subtidal reefs. Secretes a red toxic fluid if disturbed.

Method of reproduction

sexual reproduction and asexually by fission

Habitat

Marine

Found on sand in shallow, tropical waters

Distribution

Widespread Indo Pacific. WA: Houtman Abrolhos to Kimberley and offshore from Rowley Shoals to Hibernia Reef.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Subphylum: Echinozoa
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Holothuriida
Family: Holothuriidae
Genus: Holothuria
Subgenus: Halodeima
Species: atra
Name Published Year: 1833
Scientific Name Authorship: Jaeger
Commercial Impact: 

Fished as Trepang

Conservation Assessment: Least Concern

Net Conservation Benefits Fund

Share
Facebook Twitter

Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/Holothuria-Halodeima-atra
Accessed 29 Aug 2023

Rights
We support the open release of data and information about our collections.

Text content on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Image content on this page is copyright WA Museum.