Pineapple Sea Cucumber
Thelenota ananas · thel-eh-NOH-ta a-NAH-nas
nocturnalsolitaryEndangered
EdibleFriendly
Superpower
Filters tonnes of sand a year, keeping the seabed clean and healthy.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 40 cm, up to 70 cm
- Lifespan
- 5–12 years
- Depth
- 1–30 m
Habitat
Reef slopes and sandy flats.
Diet
Detritus and microbes sifted from sediment.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 4/10.
How to cook: A high-value dried 'trepang', now overharvested.
Fun facts
- Star-shaped orange spikes give it the 'pineapple' look.
- It is one of the largest and most valuable sea cucumbers.
- Overfishing for the dried trade has made it endangered.