Blue sea cucumber

Actinopyga caerulea grows to a length of about 400 mm (16 in). The colour of this sea cucumber is blue and white above and darker blue below, and the upper surface often has sand adhering to it. The anus is surrounded by five white anal teeth, and the pinkish Cuvierian tubules are occasionally discharged through the anus when the animal is stressed.[4]

Actinopyga caerulea is found off the coasts of Asia and Africa, in the tropical Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Comoros, to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other island groups in the western Pacific. It is found on the seabed in deeper tropical water on sand and rubble, as well as coral patches on the edge of coral reefs, at depths between 12 and 45 m (40 and 150 ft).[1]

This species is harvested commercially for food in some parts of its range. It is used in the production of bêche-de-mer in Papua New Guinea, and has also been found in a retail market in Guangzhou, China in 2010.[1] The IUCN lists its conservation status as "data deficient".[1]