Philippine E-Journals

Holothuroid Species in Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao, Philippines

Karla B. Tubal | Bernadette I. Del Rosario

Discipline: Botany, Taxonomy

 

Abstract:

This study was conducted to identify the different holothuroid species present in Talikud Island of the Island Garden City of Samal with the use of ossicle- based taxonomic key and determine their presence with due consideration of the environmental condition prevailing in the areas. A descriptive study was used to obtain the taxonomic account and distribution of the holothuroid species in ten selected areas of Talikud Island namely Dadatan, Baybay, Maniksik, Linosutan, Tastas, Mansod, Cogon, Dapia, Bagacay and Kamaonan. Fifteen species were identified belonging to three families namely: Synaptidae (Synapta maculata, Polyplectana kefersteini, Opheodesoma sp.); Stichopodidae (Thelenota sp., Stichopus sp., Stichopus horrens); Holothuriidae (Pearsonothuria graeffei, Holothuria hilla, Holothuria pulla, Holothuria sp 1, Holothuria sp. 2, Holothuria sp. 3, Holothuria sp. 4, Holothuria sp. 5 and Holothuria sp. 6. Human activities in some areas resulted to lower variation and number of holothuroids.