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sea
cucumbers text index
| photo index
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| Phylum Echinodermata > Class Holothuroidea |
| Durian
sea cucumber Stichopus horrens Family Stichopodidae updated Mar 09 Where seen? This large sea cucumber with a spiky surface that resembles durian skin are sometimes seen on Pulau Semakau, on sandy areas near seagrasses. It appears to be more active at night. Features: About 20cm long, but can grow large, up to half a kilo in weight. Body hard, squarish in cross-section with a distinct upper and underside. The upperside has soft conical spine-shaped structures. The underside is flat with lots of short tube feet. Yellowish or greenish grey. It is said that the sea cucumber disintegrates when it is removed from water or otherwise stressed. Human uses: This is one of the sea cucumbers whose body fluids are harvested in Malaysia for 'Air Gamat', a local health tonic that believed to aid healing and other ailments. Choo describes how in some places, the fluids are drained from the sea cucumbers which are then returned to the net cages holding them. The fluids are boiled in oil together with some herbs. |
 Pulau Semakau, Sep 05  |
 Underside |
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 Close up of 'thorns' |
Durian sea cucumbers on Singapore shores
 Pulau Semakau, Aug 11 |
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 Tube feet on the underside. |
 Pulau Semakau, Nov 09 |
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 Underside. |
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more photos of durian sea cucumbers on Singapore shores
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display
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