Abstract:
Holothurians (Class Holothuroidea, Phylum Echinodermata) of the Eastern Coast of Thailand were studied from the specimens collected from 4 habitats namely, coral reef, seagrass bed, sandy and rocky beaches in Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trad from 1998 to 2002. In addition, speciments from the museums were also studied along with specimens deposited at several institutions and collections in Thailand. The holothurians found were classified into 4 Orders, 6 Families, 15 Genera and 34 species as described below:Order Aspidochirotida: Actinopyga echinites (Jeager, 1833), Bohadschia marmorata (Jeager, 1833), B.vitiensis (Semper, 1868), Holothuria (Halodeima) atra (Semper, 1868), H.(Halodeima) edulis Lesson, 1830, H.(Semperothuria) flavomaculata Semper, 1868, H.(Stauropora) discrepans Semper, 1868, H.(Stauropora) fuscocinerea Jeager, 1833,H.(Metriatyla) martensi Semper, 1868, H.(Metriatyla) scabra Jaeger, 1833, H.(Metriatyla) ocellata Jeager, 1833, H.(Platyperona) difficilis Semper, 1868, H.(Thymiosycia) impatiens (Forskal, 1755), H.(Lessonothuria) verrucosa Selenka, 1687,H.(Lessonothuria) pardalis Selenka, 1867, (Forskal, 1775),H.(Lessonothuria) verrucosa Selenka, 1687, H.(Lessonothuria) pardalis Selenka, 1867, H.(Meritensiothuria) leucospilota Brandt, 1835, Pearsonothuria graeffei (Semper, 1868), Stichopus naso Semper, 1868, S.chloronotus Brandt, 1835, S.horrens Selenka, 1867 และ S.herrmanni Semper, 1868.Order Dendrochirotida : Actinocucumis typicus Ludwig, 1875, Cerodemas anceps (Selenka, 1867), Colochirus quadrangularis Troschel, 1846, Pseudocolochirus axiologus (Clark, 1914), Stolus conjugens (Semper, 1868), S.buccalis (Stimpson, 1855), Thyone cf.papuensis Theel, 1886 and Havelockia vericolor (Semper, 1868).Order Molpadiida : Acaudina leucoprocta (H.L.Clark, 1983). Acaudina sp.and Paracaudina sp..Order Apodida : Synaptula sp.1 and Synaptula sp.2.It was found from this study that there were 31 species in coral reef, 3 species in seagrass bed, 9 species in sandy beaches and 1 species in rocky beaches. There is one species of holothurian that has not been reported in Thai waters before namely Holothuria (Stauropora) discrepans Semper, 1868.