Brief Summary

Stichopus hermanni (formally S. variegatus) is a strictly marine and bottom dwelling sea cucumber found on usually found on sandy areas on coral reefs within the Indo-Pacific region. It is a yellow- brown colour with spotted appearance. Juveniles are darker in colour (Tehranifard et al. 2011). On average, it is 27cm long.  S. hermanni, like other holothurians, lack appendages and have bilateral symmetry, which is believed to have evolved from pentaradial symmetry due to other echinoderms possessing it. Their water vascular system, however, still maintains the pentaradial symmetry (Ruppert et al. 2004). The ventral side of the organism is known as the sole. The tube feet are found on the sole of the cucumber which are used for movement which is very slow.

Unlike other echinoderms, the oral surface of holothurians is extended aborally along the elongate polar axis, that is, that they lie on their side.
S. hermanni respire using respiratory tree which opens out of the cloaca.

Breeding occurs during the warm season (Conand 1993).

A short study was conducted on S. hermanni to determine the time of day when they are most active. This was achieved by weighing faeces every hour over a 24 hour period. It was also tested how long it took for food to travel through the organism. That organism was then dissected and rehabilitated back to recovery.