Great Barrier Reef Australia Marine Life

A common, jet-black, leathery sea cucumber found on sandy flats and under coral rubble; it feeds on organic material in sediment and is an important recycler on reefs. On the GBR it appears across lagoonal areas and reef flats, often in shallow water where it is visible at low tide.

Uniformly dark, cylindrical body often flattened against the substrate; small oral tentacles at the anterior end are visible on close approach. They remain largely motionless during the day but will move slowly at night.

Common Confusions

• Black Teatfish Holothuria whitmaei Black teatfish is larger and has prominent wart-like papillae; surface texture and dorsal papillae differ from H. atra's smooth body.
• White-spotted Sea Cucumber Holothuria leucospilota H. leucospilota has distinctive white spots or tubercles on a dark body, unlike uniformly black H. atra.
• Curryfish Stichopus herrmanni Stichopus species are bulkier with a granulated surface and often paler in color; feet arrangement differs.
• Sandfish Holothuria scabra Sandfish are lighter colored, more elongated, and prefer sandy flats; surface texture is smoother in H. scabra.
• Dead sea cucumber (desiccated) Dead individuals are deflated and stiff; live animals show movement of tentacles and slight body rhythmic contractions.