CR

Golden Sandfish

Holothuria lessoni

Declining

Overview

Holothuria lessoni, the golden sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the genus Holothuria, subgenus Metriatyla. This sea cucumber inhabits the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, where it is found near islands and reef flats. It is highly sought after in commercial and subsistence fishing and the species threatened by overfishing.

Holothuria lessoni faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive commercial harvesting for the sea cucumber trade, particularly in Pacific island nations where it is highly valued for export to Asian markets. Overexploitation has led to local extinctions in many reef systems, while coastal development and coral reef degradation further reduce available habitat. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make populations particularly vulnerable to overharvesting pressure.

Threat summary

Habitat

Holothuria lessoni inhabits shallow tropical coral reefs and sandy lagoons throughout the Indo-Pacific, typically found at depths of 1-30 meters. The species prefers areas with mixed coral and sand substrates where it feeds on organic matter and detritus.

Marine neritic· major

Other threatened species in HOLOTHURIIDAE

VU

Bohadschia maculisparsa

Unknown
VU

Actinopyga mauritiana

Declining
EN

Holothuria fuscogilva

Declining
VU

Actinopyga miliaris

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Golden Sandfish classified as Critically Endangered?
Golden Sandfish 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. Holothuria lessoni faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive commercial harvesting for the sea cucumber trade, particularly in Pacific island nations where it is highly valued for export to Asian markets. Overexploitation has led to local extinctions in many reef systems, while coastal development and coral reef degradation further reduce available habitat. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make populations particularly vulnerable to overharvesting pressure.
Where does Golden Sandfish live?
Golden Sandfish occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Golden Sandfish?
The main threats to Golden Sandfish 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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