Actinopyga lecanora

Actinopyga lecanora, commonly known as the white-bottomed sea cucumber,[3] is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical Western Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

Actinopyga lecanora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Holothuriida
Family: Holothuriidae
Genus: Actinopyga
Species:
A. lecanora
Binomial name
Actinopyga lecanora
(Jaeger, 1833)[2]
Synonyms[2]
  • Muelleria lecanora (Jaeger, 1833)
  • Holothuria lecanora Jaeger, 1833
  • Holothuria lineolata Quoy & Gaimard, 1834
  • Holothuria dubia Brandt, 1835

Description

Actinopyga lecanora grows to a length of about 250 mm (10 in). The top and bottom of the sea cucumber is a mottled tan-orange colour, and the anus is surrounded with a white ring, lending the sea cucumber its common name.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Actinopyga lecanora is found off the coasts of Asia and East Africa, in the tropical Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Kenya and Madagascar to the west, to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other island groups in the western Pacific. It is considered rare in the Taiping Islands and Taiwan. It is nocturnal and typically found on forereef slopes, at depths between 0 and 23 m (0 and 80 ft).[1][3]

Status

This species is harvested commercially for food and traditional medicine in some parts of its range, and is of medium commercial importance. It is used in the production of bêche-de-mer in 13 different countries in the Western Central Pacific. In Papua New Guinea, it is subject to a minimum size limit of 15 cm (6 in) if fresh and 15 cm (6 in) if dry, as well as a designated fishing season between January 16 and September 30 to prevent overfishing.[1] The IUCN lists its conservation status as data deficient.[1]

References
  1. Conand, C.; Purcell, S. & Gamboa, R. (2013). "Actinopyga lecanora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T180266A1608301. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  2. "Actinopyga lecanora". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  3. "Actinopyga caerulea, white-bottomed sea cucumber". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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