Sea Cucumber - H. mammata

Code Name :   WBX

Scientific Name :   Holothuria spp - H. mammata

Holothuria mammata classification : Echinodermata (phylum), Holothuroidae (class), Holothuria (genus/subgenus), Holothuriidae (family).

Holothuria mammata is widespread and generally occurs within a range of 0 to 100 m, usually below 30 m, which makes it less vulnerable to threats.

H. mammata occurs in the Mediterranean, including Spain, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Croatia and Italy. It is recorded also in  the eastern coast of Mexico, in southern Portugal and the Azores and Canary Islands, in Algeria and in Malta.

This species occurs in sand and silt bottom areas. The size of the adults varies from 15 to 19 cm. The body is more or less round cross section.  The ventral face has three longitudinal lines with podia with suction caps. It has a fringe of short, flattened tentacles around the mouth at the anterior end and an anus at the posterior end. The general colour is reddish-brown and the surface is covered with numerous brown-coloured, conical, thorn-like projections known as papillae.

The animal sorts the edible organic substances, and rejects the elements not metabolized such as sand, in the form of roved excrements.

As members of the class Holothuroidea are gonochoric and have only one gonad. Spawning and fertilization are both external and some exhibit brooding. Life cycle: Embryos develop into planktotrophic larvae (auricularia) then into doliolaria (barrel-shaped stage) which later metamorphose into juvenile sea cucumbers.

Holothuria mammata is one the three species of holothuria, our company deals with. It is a sea product which is collected exclusively and literally with bare hands by our collaborating experienced divers who give their lives every day to bring the valuable animal to the surface  and then to the factory. Each diver can gather a significant number of individuals. Due to the large variation in sizes the delivery is counted by weight. All the rest of the work is done in the factory. The product is cleaned, sterilized, freezing, and this is done with great care following special procedures accompanied by strict hygiene rules.

Sea cucumbers are used for food in some countries, particularly Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and Norway.

This species is listed as one of the most commercially valuable targets of the sea cucumber fisheries that are expanding in the Mediterranean Sea.