Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867)
Japanese sea cucumber
Apostichopus japonicus
photo by FAO

Family:  Stichopodidae ()
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 200 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Japan (from Hokkaido to Kyushu), China, Korean Peninsula and Far Eastern Russia (Karaginskogo Island).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Common in shallow coastal bottom communities from the intertidal zone to depths more than 100 m. Forms aggregations, usually in the upper sublittoral zone (Ref. 635). May occur in three color variants: red type often found in offshore gravel beds while the green and black types often at inshore sandy-muddy bottoms (Ref. 77132). Juveniles often associated with algal/seagrass and oyster beds (Ref. 621). Most commercially important sea cucumber species (for trade, food and traditional medicine both; fisheries and farming/ranching) in China (Ref. 77133). Aquaculture now widespread in northern coast of China (Ref. 77133) since wild populations became over-exploited in the 1990s. Chinese aquaculture production peaked at 65,283 tons in 2005 (Ref. 77133). A sediment-feeder and bio-scavenger; ingests organic matter in sediment, e.g., bacteria, protozoa, diatoms, plant and animal debris including faeces (Ref. 77143).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 19 May 2010 (A2bd) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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