While generally considered sedentary, they have large tube feet hidden underneath their body which allow them to be highly mobile creatures and widely distributed.

T. ananas plays an important role in coral reef ecosystems by recycling nutrients, bioturbating sediments, buffering sea water from ocean acidification to local scales, prey to a range of predators, and acting as a host for symbiotic biota.

Arthur G. Humes of Boston University's Marine Program published research in 1973 that identified three new siphonostomes found onT.

It was also found that all three of these newly discovered species could occur on the same host at the same time, and are very similar in structure, leading to the theory that these three evolved from a common ancestor that was also associated with T. ananas in the past.

[3] T. ananas is one of the most popular edible sea cucumber species consumed in China, and some other Southeast Asian countries.

[8] Furthermore, sea cucumbers contain saponins, which can help regulate cholesterol metabolism, alleviate the development of obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.