Prickly Redfish (species: Thelenota ananas) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Thelenota ananas
Prickly Redfish


©Andrew Trevor-Jones: Thelenota ananas on an outer reef near Lizard Island.

©Barbara Banks: Thelenota ananasat Clam Garden, LIzard Island.

©Anne Hoggett: A small individual of Thelenota ananas at North Point, Lizard Island.
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Holothuroidea
Order Aspidochirotida
Family Stichopodidae
Genus Thelenota
Species Thelenota ananas

Colours

              

Distinguishing features

This large sea cucumber is unmistakeable. The highly-arched body is covered on the dorsal surface with large papillae that may vary from conical to branched on a short stalk. The ventral surface is flat and and covered with podia. Colour is orange to brown above, paler below. The body wall is thick and firm. This is a valuable commercial species.

Size

  • Up to 80 cm (length)

Depth range

  • Up to 30 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Purcell, S.W., Y. Samyn and C. Conand (2012). Commercially important sea cucumbers of the world 150 pp., 30 pl. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

Other references

  • Bakus, G.J. (1981). Chemical defense mechanisms on the Great Barrier Reef, Science, 211: 497-499. LIRS catalog number 41.
  • Purcell, S.W., T.P. Piddocke, S.J. Dalton and Y.-G. Wang (2016). Movement and growth of the coral reef holothuroids Bohadschia argus and Thelenota ananas, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 551: 201-214. LIRS catalog number 2005.
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