DISTRIBUTION OF INTERTIDAL HOLOTHURIAN FAUNA IN LIANGA BAY, SURIGAO DEL SUR

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to monitor the sea cucumber status in Lianga Bay. There were 16 species of holothuroids identified belonging to 3 families namely the Holothuriidae, Synaptidae and Stichopodidae and five (5) unidentified species. The results seemed to be alarming in other Municipalities because there are only 16 species and 5 unidentified species collected in the wild compared to the previous studies conducted of 35 species of holothuroids in the area for the past 12 years. It was found out that holothuroids were distributed according to the type of substrate and distribution is independent of the total area. The morphological adaptations of different species enabled them to occur in specific habitat types.