Holothurians (Holothuroidea : Echinodermate) of the Eastern Coast of Thailand

Abstract

Holothurians (Class Holothuroidea, Ph)'Ium Echinodcrmata) of the Eastern Coast of Thailand were intensively studied from the speciiriens collected from 4 marine habitats namely, coral reef, seagrass beJ, sandy and rocky beaches in Chon Bun, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat Provinces from 1998 to 2002. In addition, museum specimens from the authors’s collections also examined along with other specimens deposited in sci ernl institutions and c0llections in Thailand. The holothui-ians found were classified into 4 Orders, 6 Families, 14 Genera and 34 species. Regarding the observed habitats, it was founJ that there were 31 species in coral reefs, 3 species in seagrass heds, 9 species in sandy beaches and 1species in rocky beaches.