FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

1180 Holothurians
Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra var. versicolor (Conand, 1986)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / Holothuria albiventer Semper, 1868; H. acculeata
Semper, 1868; H. (Metriatyla) scabra Jaeger, 1833.
FAO names: En - Golden sandfish.
calcareous ring
spicules of podia
spicules of tentacles
mouth with 20
short tentacles
spicules of ventral tegument
spicules of dorsal tegument
bivium with more or less dark
dots, large papillae, no wrinkles
anus terminal
with papillae
Diagnostic characters: Body oval, arched dorsally (bivium) and flattened ventrally (trivium). Bivium without
characteristic wrinkles (as in the typical Holothuria scabra), sometimes covered by sediment when the animal
is coming out of the bottom. Bivium with large papillae as well as black podia ending in a disc of around
220 µm diameter; podia on trivium arranged irregularly, their calcareous disc around 350 µm in diameter.
Mouth ventral, surrounded by a collar of papillae and 20 grey, short and stout tentacles. Anus
terminal, surrounded by a circle of 5 groups of radial papillae. Calcareous ring with a large medio-ventral
radial piece. Cuvierian tubules absent. Colour: variable; 3 main patterns can be recognized: speckled, with
moderate black areas, or black overall. Spicules: very numerous; ventral tegument with tables and buttons,
the tables having a moderately small disc, perforated by a various number of holes of variable size, the
spire with 4 pillars and a cross-like bridge, ending in a spiny crown with a hole in the middle; knobby buttons
generally have 6 holes, occasionally more; small rods and denticulate plates also present; tables and
buttons in dorsal tegument: tables with a nodose disc, much larger than in ventral tegument; buttons
variable, larger, and more perforated than those in ventral tegument; ventral and dorsal podia with long and
large spinose rods; tentacles with long spiny rods, small smooth rods, and large denticulate plates.
Size: Maximum length about 45 cm, commonly to about 30 cm; mean live weight about 1.1 kg (up to 2.8 kg);
body-wall thickness about 7 mm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Generally inhabits shallow waters, but often found in depths of more than
20 m (deeper than the typical H. scabra); on inner reef flats and coastal lagoons, frequently on flagstones;
burrows in mud and sandy-muddy bottoms. Population densities are less than in the typical H. scabra, witha
mean of around 0.01/m 2 . Sexual reproduction takes place during the warm season. It has a high potential
fecundity. Harvested in some artisanal fisheries throughout the area, in places where its habitat occurs.
Collected by hand at low tide while wading on the reefs. Processed with the same method used with the
typical H. scabra: the sea cucumbers are buried overnight and the next day the numerous spicules are
removed by brushing the tegument.The processed product is different in appearance from the typical H. scabra,
having a golden colour. Of major commercial value, the processed product is at present highly demanded.
Distribution: Widespread in the tropical Pacific,
excluding coral reef islands.
Remarks: Despite distinct differences in its
ecology and biology, when compared to the typical
H. scabra, this form is currently considered a
variety, due to the lack of known differences in the
spicules and internal anatomy. The name of this
variety, versicolor, is due to the dorsal tegument
which shows various colour patterns. Generally
grows larger than the typical H. scabra.