Thelenota ananas
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
1-25 meters
The giant sea cucumber, also known as the prickly redfish, is one of the largest and most distinctive sea cucumber species found in Komodo National Park. Reaching up to 70 centimetres in length and weighing several kilograms, this massive echinoderm is covered in rows of large, fleshy, star-tipped papillae that give it a warty, pineapple-like texture — hence its scientific name ananas, meaning pineapple. In Komodo, giant sea cucumbers are commonly found on sandy and rubble substrates and across reef flats, where they spend their lives slowly crawling across the bottom, vacuuming up sediment and extracting organic matter, bacteria, and detritus. This constant processing of sediment is ecologically vital — sea cucumbers are the earthworms of the reef, recycling nutrients, oxygenating the sand, and maintaining sediment health. A single giant sea cucumber can process dozens of kilograms of sediment per day. Despite their humble appearance, sea cucumbers were historically so valuable in Asian markets (dried and sold as trepang or bêche-de-mer) that overharvesting devastated populations across the Indo-Pacific. Komodo's protected status has allowed populations to remain healthy, contributing to overall reef ecosystem function.
Average Size
35-50cm
Size Range
15-70cm
Maximum Size
70cm, up to 6kg
Detritivore that feeds by ingesting sand and sediment, extracting organic matter, bacteria, algae, and detritus. Excretes cleaned sand, effectively recycling nutrients and maintaining sediment health.
The giant sea cucumber, also known as the prickly redfish, is one of the largest and most distinctive sea cucumber species found in Komodo National Park. Reaching up to 70 centimetres in length and weighing several kilograms, this massive echinoderm is covered in rows of large, fleshy, star-tipped papillae that give it a warty, pineapple-like texture — hence its scientific name ananas, meaning pineapple. In Komodo, giant sea cucumbers are commonly found on sandy and rubble substrates and across reef flats, where they spend their lives slowly crawling across the bottom, vacuuming up sediment and extracting organic matter, bacteria, and detritus. This constant processing of sediment is ecologically vital — sea cucumbers are the earthworms of the reef, recycling nutrients, oxygenating the sand, and maintaining sediment health. A single giant sea cucumber can process dozens of kilograms of sediment per day. Despite their humble appearance, sea cucumbers were historically so valuable in Asian markets (dried and sold as trepang or bêche-de-mer) that overharvesting devastated populations across the Indo-Pacific. Komodo's protected status has allowed populations to remain healthy, contributing to overall reef ecosystem function.
This species plays an important role in the marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park. Responsible diving practices help protect these animals and their habitat for future generations.
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They are essential for reef health. By constantly processing sediment, they recycle nutrients, oxygenate the sand, and prevent the build-up of organic waste. Reefs without sea cucumbers have poorer sediment quality and less healthy substrate ecosystems.
