Holothuroidea |
Synallactida |
Stichopodidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Benthic; depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 635), usually 50 - 100 m (Ref. 635). Subtropical; ? - 30°C (Ref. 77134), preferred 16°C (Ref. 107945); 63°N - 31°N, 117°E - 165°E (Ref. 112755)
Northwest Pacific: Japan (from Hokkaido to Kyushu), China, Korean Peninsula and Far Eastern Russia (Karaginskogo Island).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 20 - ? cm Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 101467)
Common in shallow coastal bottom communities from the intertidal zone to depths more than 100 m. Forms aggregations, usually in the upper sublittoral zone (Ref. 635). May occur in three color variants: red type often found in offshore gravel beds while the green and black types often at inshore sandy-muddy bottoms (Ref. 77132). Juveniles often associated with algal/seagrass and oyster beds (Ref. 621). Most commercially important sea cucumber species (for trade, food and traditional medicine both; fisheries and farming/ranching) in China (Ref. 77133). Aquaculture now widespread in northern coast of China (Ref. 77133) since wild populations became over-exploited in the 1990s. Chinese aquaculture production peaked at 65,283 tons in 2005 (Ref. 77133). A sediment-feeder and bio-scavenger; ingests organic matter in sediment, e.g., bacteria, protozoa, diatoms, plant and animal debris including faeces (Ref. 77143).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the class Holothuroidea are gonochoric and have only one gonad. Spawning and fertilization are both external and some exhibit brooding. Life cycle: Embryos develop into planktotrophic larvae (auricularia) then into doliolaria (barrel-shaped stage) which later metamorphose into juvenile sea cucumbers.
Kan-no, M. and A. Kijima 2003 Genetic differentiation among three color variants of Japanese sea cucumber Stichopus jamponicus. Fisheries Science 69:806-812. (Ref. 77132)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial
FAO - Aquaculture: production, species profile; Fisheries: landings | FishSource | Sea Around Us
Tools
More information
PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 8.6 - 19.7, mean 15.2 (based on 30 cells).
Fishing Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (8 of 100).
Nutrients : Calcium = 126 [75, 177] mg/100g; Iron = 4.79 [1.67, 7.92] mg/100g; Protein = 16.6 [15.4, 17.8] %; Omega3 = 0.331 [0.263, 0.400] g/100g; Selenium = 57.8 [48.5, 67.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 μg/100g; Zinc = 1.97 [0.92, 3.02] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
