Chemistry and biology of sea cucumbers Full Paper

The phylum Echinodermata, which comprises about 6,000 living species distributed in sea cucumbers are a fascinating group of marine invertebrates. They live chiefly among the corals but are also found among rocks and in muddy and sandy flats. They are distributed from the shore to the greatest depths. Their length ranges from a few millimeters to more than 2.0 meter and they occur in all color combinations white, black, red, blue, green, yellow, violet etc.[1] Sea cucumbers are distributed over South Pacific region, Peru, Chile, Caribbean East Pacific (California, Mexico, Baja, Canada) West Atlantic, New Zealand, West Australia, Red sea, South East Asia and Indian Ocean. The species of highest commercial value in tropical waters of the western pacific and Indian Oceans are Holothuria fuscogilva, Holothuria nobilis, Holothuria scabra, and Actinopyga mauritiana, species of medium value include Actinopyga echinites, Actinopyga miliaris and Thelenota ananas. Species of low value include Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis, Bohadschia argus, Bohadschia vitiensis, Stichopus chloronotus and Stichopus variegates. They are found in the Indian Ocean, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay and Lakshadweep. The body of sea cucumber is elongated, leathery and muscular. Spines are contained within the skin. Sea cucumber is dioecious, but hard to differentiate between male from andfemale form.. Cuvierian tubules (defensive glands which extend from anus) contained a large amount of saponins, which are pesticidal.