The Black Lollyfish (Holothuria atra), the Black sea cucumber, is found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region and Zanzibar. It has a distinct cylindrical body, typically black or dark brown in color, with a smooth, leathery texture. It is commonly covered with sand as its most preferred habitat substrate.
Description of the Black Lollyfish
The species can grow up to 30 cm in length. Its body is covered with soft and small protrusions that give it a rough appearance. At one end, it features a cluster of tentacles used for feeding; on the other end, there is the anus without anus teeth.
Red dye for defense
When the Black Lollyfish is rubbed or threatened, it can release a red, viscous dye on its skin surface as a defense mechanism. This secretion is not toxic but serves to deter predators and protect the sea cucumber from potential threats. This substance is produced in epithelial cells and contains a variety of saponins and pigments, contributing to its reddish hue. It is a chemical defense, alerting potential predators that the sea cucumber is unpalatable.
Sand covering except for two rows of bare circles.
Black Lollyfish often buries itself in the sand, exposing only two rows of bare circles. These bare circles are tube feet that help the fish respire, avoid overheating, camouflage, and sense the environment (Purcell et al., 2023).
How to use Black Lollyfish sea cucumbers
The species is harvested throughout Asia-Pacific by hand collecting, free-diving, hookah diving, and scuba diving. Only in Pacific Island nations is it harvested for subsistence; in all other areas, it is just exported in dried form to other Asian countries.
Caution!
Black Lollyfish are less commonly eaten than other sea cucumbers due to their high saponin contents, particularly holothurin, which is mildly toxic to humans. It has been found that twenty-six saponins (triterpene glycosides) are present in the Cuvierian tubules and twelve in the animal’s body wall (Van Dyck et al., 2011. Traditional detoxification methods before consumption are, therefore, essential. People in some geographical regions avoid eating them altogether in favor of other sea cucumber species that are naturally less toxic.
Before eating Black Lollyfish sea cucumbers, one has to be assured that they have been appropriately detoxified.
Detoxification & Cleaning
- Ingredients:
- 2–3 Black Lollyfish (Holothuria atra)
- 1 liter of water
- 2 tbsp lime (calcium hydroxide) or wood ash (optional, for toxin neutralization)
- 2 tbsp salt
- Procedure:
- Cleaning:
- Rinse the Lollyfish thoroughly under running water.
- Cut open the belly and remove all internal organs. Discard them.
- Scrape off any remaining gut residues and rinse well.
- Boiling & Neutralizing Toxins:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt and lime/wood ash.
- Boil the Lollyfish for 30–45 minutes to help remove toxins.
- Drain and rinse in cold water.
- Cleaning:
Drying & Salting
- In most countries, Black Lollyfish sea cucumbers are dried and salted to preserve them.
- The drying process may take several days under the sun or using low heat.
- Once dried, it can be stored for months and later rehydrated for cooking.
Cooking Methods
- Soup & Broth: After detoxification, it is often added to soups or stews, absorbing flavors from herbs, spices, and broth.
- Stir-frying: rehydrated black Lollyfish is sliced and stir-fried with vegetables, garlic, soy sauce, and other seasonings.
- Stewing: Slowly simmered with meats, ginger, and Chinese herbs for medicinal benefits.
- Pickling: Some people ferment or pickle sea cucumbers to enhance their taste and preserve the meat.
Nutritional Value of Black Lollyfish
Sea cucumbers, including Holothuria atra, are highly valued for their high protein content, low fat, and rich bioactive compounds. In the following, we compare the nutritional values of Black Lollyfish to Sandfish.
Which One is better?
- For affordability and availability: Holothuria atra (Black Lollyfish if properly detoxified)
- For culinary purposes: Holothuria scabra (Sandfish is the most widely eaten species)
Lessons learned about Black Lollyfish sea cucumbers in Zanzibar:
- Black Lollyfish is a low-value seafood item for beachcombers.
- It will only be collected by beachcombing ladies if sales of dried Lollyfish are assured and lucrative.
- When rough handling this sea cucumber, it will release a red dye from its body.
- Before eating, Black Lollyfish has to be carefully detoxified to render their saponins harmless.
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