Pineapple sea cucumber

Thelenota ananas

''Thelenota ananas'', also known as pineapple sea cucumber, oloturia ananas, tripang, prickly skin cucumber, pointed teat sea cucumber, armoured sea cucumber, giant sea cucumber, sand fish or prickly redfish, is a species of sea cucumber found in tropical waters from the Red Sea to New Caledonia. Its reddish-brown body with large and mostly branched papillae can reach up to 70 centimetres in length.
Pineapple Sea Cucumber It can grow up to 70 cm long. It has shades in brown to red. Cylindrical body with numerous often branched elongate star-shaped conical papillae in groups of two or three all over the surface of its body. Due to intense commercial exploitation it is listed as endangered by the IUCN. East Reef Wreck, Lankayan, Sabah. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/39605 Fall,Geotagged,Malaysia,Pineapple sea cucumber,Thelenota ananas

Distribution

This species can be found on clean sandy bottoms of the ocean near large coral heads. It has a distinctive appearance with large pointed teats in groups of two or three all over the surface of its body. It has numerous large tubed feet on its flat underside as well. This type of sea cucumber is edible and is considered a delicacy in the Far East countries.
Thelenota ananas Is a close up of the same sea cucumber shown in the previous spotting, for better appreciation of the curious pattern of star-like papillae that gives it its name. Fall,Geotagged,Malaysia,Thelenota ananas

Status

Due to intense commercial exploitation, the population of ''T. ananas'' has declined by 80-90% in at least 50% of its range; it is listed as endangered by IUCN.

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