About Holothuria cinerascens (Brandt, 1835)
The ashy sea cucumber, Holothuria cinerascens, has a black tubular body marked with grey or red specks that give it an overall appearance similar to ashes. Adults range in size from 10 to 30 centimeters long, and have a typical lifespan of 5 to 15 years. This species uses its tentacles to capture floating particles from the water column, including plankton, algae, tiny aquatic organisms, and organic detritus. Holothuria cinerascens is gonochoric (has separate male and female individuals) and reproduces via broadcast spawning. This sea cucumber is found near coral reefs and rocks, in tide pools, deeper waters, lagoons, and bays. It often hides in very tight spaces. Its movement and migration patterns are affected by the depth it occupies, light intensity, water temperature, and the number of predators in the local area. For human use, ashy sea cucumbers are highly nutritious, containing minerals including calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium, as well as vitamins. They are an important food source for humans, giving them high economic value as a food product. They are also used in pharmaceutical products. Their protein is rich in glycine, which is the main component, and also contains other amino acids including glutamic acid, alanine, and threonine, among other components.
