C. robustus belongs to the class Holothuroidea, a group of echinoderms called sea cucumbers and known for unusual behavior including evisceration, asexual reproduction, and regeneration.

The robust sea cucumber has a soft body and lacks a spine, but it does have an endoskeleton consisting of microscopic spicules, or ossicles, made of calcium carbonate.

The robust sea cucumber is an important dietary staple for many East and Southeast Asian populations, and has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.

DNA evidence strongly supports monophyly of all Holothuroidea: That is, all species previously identified as belonging to the class are indeed descended from a common ancestor.

It clings to the substrate with its tube feet, spreading its feathery tentacles to catch zooplankton and other organic particles as they float past.

In the latter case, fission can take place with a transverse crack developing halfway along the body and gradually widening until the two halves split apart.

A 2012 study of Holothurians in Nha Trang Bay first found that when C. robustus was cut in half, both its posterior and anterior ends could survive.

[10] In order to escape predators, some Holothurians are capable of evisceration: a process in which the gut and other internal organs are suddenly expelled through the mouth or anus.

[11] C. robustus has been used in Eastern medicine for hundreds of years, and recent research suggests that consuming the robust sea cucumber does indeed stimulate the immune system.

In addition, C. robustus has been shown to improve wound healing and alleviate pain from arthritis, and it contains many vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that are highly beneficial to human health.