DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: Body is
entirely black, elongated, and somewhat
broader in the posterior half. Body tapers
moderately at both anterior and posterior
ends. Long podia and papillae are
randomly distributed on the dorsal surface.
Ventral podia are numerous. The tegument
is sometimes covered by fine sediment
and mucus. Mouth is ventral with 20 large
black tentacles. Anus is terminal and this
species ejects thin, long Cuvierian tubules.
Juveniles have a similar appearance to
adults.
Ossicles: Tentacles devoid of ossicles. Dorsal and ventral body wall with similar tables and
buttons. Tables with round to quandrangular discs, 40–70 μm across, perforated by 4 central holes
and 4–12 peripheral ones, and the rims of discs are smooth to spiny; spire ending in a spiny crown.
The irregular buttons are 40–70 μm long, with 2–5 pairs of irregular holes. Ventral podia with similar
tables and buttons and with large perforated plates, 60–120 μm long. Dorsal podia with tables and
buttons similar to those of body wall and rods, 50–190 μm long, variously perforated.
Processed appearance: This species may be
traded mixed with other low-value species in the
dried form.
Size: Maximum length about 50 cm; average
length about 30 cm. Average fresh weight from
335 g (Viet Nam) to 400–900 g (Réunion); average
fresh length from 23 cm (Viet Nam) to 35–50 cm
(Réunion).
HABITAT AND BIOLOGY: Lives in shallow
habitats up to 10 m depth. Found mostly on outer
and inner reef flats, back reefs and shallow coastal
lagoons. Commonly found in seagrass beds, sandy
and muddy bottoms with rubble or coral reefs.
Holothuria leucospilota is a very common species,
with its distribution extending into warm-temperate
zones. Densities may be up to 5 000 ind. ha-1. In
Madagascar, it can be found in the inner slope,
seagrass beds, microatoll and detrital fringe with
higher densities on the inner reef slopes.