FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Order Aspidochirotida - Holothuriidae 1181
Holothuria (Microthele) fuscogilva Cherbonnier, 1980
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / Holothuria nobilis (Selenka, 1867); H. maculata.
FAO names: En - White teatfish; Fr - Holothurie blanche à mamelles.
anus terminal, with 5
bivium with slender papillae
stout calcareous teeth
calcareous ring
spicules of tentacles
spicules of ventral
tegument
spicules of dorsal
tegument
mouth ventral, with papillae
and 20 stout tentacles
spicules of podia
(after Féral and Cherbonnier, 1986)
lateral teats
spicules of tegument
Diagnostic characters: Body suboval, stout, firm and rigid, arched dorsally (bivium) and flattened ventrally
(trivium). Bivium with characteristic large lateral papillae (teats) and often covered by sand. Bivium with
small papillae as well as podia ending in a disc of around 450 µm diameter; podia on trivium stout, arranged
irregularly, their calcareous disc around 600 µm in diameter. Mouth ventral, surrounded by a collar of long
yellowish papillae and 20 grey, stout tentacles.Anus surrounded by 5 stout calcareous teeth.Calcareous
ring with large radial pieces (slightly different from Holothuria nobilis). Cuvierian tubules absent. Colour:
variable; bivium brown with more or less distinct whitish spots, becoming larger on sides; trivium lighter,
generally whitish. Spicules: in form of tables and buttons; dorsal and ventral tegument with 2 kinds of tables;
one form of table having an undulated disc with 10 to 15 irregular holes, supporting a massive spire with 4 pillars,
ending in a very large, spiny, perforated crown; the other form of table, more frequent in the dorsal tegument,
have a larger disc, with more holes and a spire ending in a crown composed of 2 or 3 rows of stout spines and
5 or 6 spiny pillars; ventraltegument buttons simple, with 8 holes or more complicated as fenestrated ellipsoids;
dorsal-tegument buttons only as fenestrated ellipsoids; ventral and dorsal podia with large plates,
multiperforated; tentacles with spiny ending rods (up to 700 µm).
Size: Maximum length about 57 cm, commonly to about 42 cm; mean live weight about 2.4 kg (up to 4 kg);
body-wall thickness about 12 mm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: With a deeper distribution than H. nobilis, mostly found in depths between 10
and 40 m; generally occurs on outer barrier reefs and passes, but also known to inhabit shallow seagrass beds.
Populations do not reach densities as high as H. nobilis, with medium densities around 0.001/m 2 .Sexual
reproduction takes place during the warm season. A species with a low potential fecundity and late sexual
maturity. Harvested in artisanal fisheries throughout the area, in places where its habitat occurs. Collected by
skin diving or using diving gear (if not banned), making the populations vulnerable due to overexploitation.
The processed product is of major commercial value and very highly demanded at present, even though
the stocks have declined within the area.
Distribution: Widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific.
Remarks: Although described only some years ago,
this species, previously considered to be identical to
H. nobilis. However, for a long time it was well known
by fishermen from various Pacific islands, which give
it a different name than H. nobilis, based on the colour.
It differs from H. nobilis by the colour of the tegument,
the absence of Cuvierian tubules, and the shape of
spicules. Their habitats are also different.