Pseudocolochirus violaceus
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
5-30 meters
The sea apple is one of the most colourful and visually striking sea cucumbers found in Komodo National Park, and a world away from the drab, sausage-shaped sea cucumbers most divers are accustomed to seeing. This spectacular animal features a plump, oval body coloured in vivid combinations of purple, blue, red, and yellow, with large, feathery feeding tentacles that it extends into the current to capture plankton and organic particles. Sea apples belong to the class Holothuroidea and are filter-feeding echinoderms that use their modified tube feet — transformed into elaborate branching tentacles — to trap food from the water column. Each tentacle is inserted into the mouth in turn, wiping off the collected food in a mesmerising, rhythmic process. In Komodo, sea apples are found at current-exposed sites where plankton supply is abundant, often wedged into crevices or perched on coral with their tentacles fully extended into the flow. They are highly toxic if eaten, containing holothurin compounds that can poison fish in an enclosed space.
Did you recently spot a Sea Apple?
Share your encounter with the diving community
Average Size
10-15cm
Size Range
5-20cm
Maximum Size
20cm
Filter feeder that captures plankton and organic particles from the water column using elaborate branching feeding tentacles. Each tentacle is wiped through the mouth to harvest collected food.
The sea apple is one of the most colourful and visually striking sea cucumbers found in Komodo National Park, and a world away from the drab, sausage-shaped sea cucumbers most divers are accustomed to seeing. This spectacular animal features a plump, oval body coloured in vivid combinations of purple, blue, red, and yellow, with large, feathery feeding tentacles that it extends into the current to capture plankton and organic particles. Sea apples belong to the class Holothuroidea and are filter-feeding echinoderms that use their modified tube feet — transformed into elaborate branching tentacles — to trap food from the water column. Each tentacle is inserted into the mouth in turn, wiping off the collected food in a mesmerising, rhythmic process. In Komodo, sea apples are found at current-exposed sites where plankton supply is abundant, often wedged into crevices or perched on coral with their tentacles fully extended into the flow. They are highly toxic if eaten, containing holothurin compounds that can poison fish in an enclosed space.
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.
No encounters shared yet
Be the first to share your sighting of this species!
They are not dangerous to divers through normal observation. However, they contain toxic compounds called holothurins that are released when the animal is stressed. Never handle them, and they pose no risk during a dive.
Answer a few questions and our team will point you towards the perfect match!
It's free and takes 2 mins
