iScience· 2026Q1
Extreme longevity revealed by 24-year genetic mark–recapture challenges conservation of endangered sea cucumbers
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Genetic mark-recapture over 24 years reveals endangered black teatfish (Holothuria whitmaei) can live over 100 years, with extremely low adult mortality (∼0.04/year) and negligible growth after maturity.
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Key points
- Genetic mark-recapture over 24 years identified extreme longevity in black teatfish (Holothuria whitmaei).
- Adult mortality rate was estimated at a very low ~0.04 per year.
- Mean lifespan is approximately 24-27 years, with potential longevity over 100 years.
- Most recaptured individuals showed negligible or negative growth, indicating slow post-maturity development.
- Current harvest models likely overestimate sustainable yields for this species.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Coral reef sea cucumbers are heavily exploited despite the precarious conservation status of many species, yet limited life-history knowledge constrains effective management. We used genetic mark–recapture to estimate longevity, mortality, and growth in the endangered, CITES-listed black teatfish Holothuria ( Microthele ) whitmaei by resampling a population after 24 years. Most individuals (60%) in 2024 were genetically identical to those sampled in 2000, indicating extremely low adult mortality (∼0.04 per year), a conservative mean lifespan of ∼24–27 years, and longevity exceeding 100 years. Most recaptured individuals showed negligible or negative growth. Current harvest models for tropical sea cucumbers do not account for such extreme longevity and likely overestimate sustainable yields. Our results suggest that exploitation of long-lived reef invertebrates is unsustainable under prevailing harvest rates and environmental stress, highlighting the need to reassess productivity-based fisheries frameworks more broadly.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. iScience, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Aquatic Science
Aquatic ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences