Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber
CR

Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber

Holothuria mexicana

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holothuria_mexicana

Overview

Holothuria mexicana, the donkey dung sea cucumber, is commonly found in the Caribbean and the Azores. It is a commercially important aspidochirote sea cucumber that can reach a total length of 50 cm (20 in).

The Donkey Dung Sea Cucumber faces severe population declines primarily due to overexploitation for commercial fisheries, particularly driven by high demand in Asian markets where it is valued as a delicacy and for traditional medicine. Habitat degradation from coastal development, pollution, and climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems further threaten remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species is found throughout the Caribbean and reaches southern Brazil.

MARINE· major

Threatened in Antigua & Barbuda

CR

Alsophis antiguae

Increasing
Keeled SkimmerVU

Keeled Skimmer

Orthetrum coerulescens

Unknown
softshell crabVU

softshell crab

Callinectes sapidus

Unknown
Great Land CrabVU

Great Land Crab

Cardisoma guanhumi

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber classified as Critically Endangered?
Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Donkey Dung Sea Cucumber faces severe population declines primarily due to overexploitation for commercial fisheries, particularly driven by high demand in Asian markets where it is valued as a delicacy and for traditional medicine. Habitat degradation from coastal development, pollution, and climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems further threaten remaining populations.
Where does Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber live?
Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber occurs in Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, and British Virgin Islands (plus 33 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber?
The main threats to Dunkey Dung Sea Cucumber are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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