SC Field Guide 2023 Final
SC Field Guide 2023 Final
SC Field Guide 2023 Final
OF PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES
A FIELD GUID E
Roger G. Dolorosa
Editor
© 2023 by Jean Beth S. Jontila.
Recommended Citation:
All photos in this book belong to the author unless otherwise indicated.
Originally, I want to dedicate this book to my parents,
the fishers, the science community,
and my fellow taxpayers.
Acknowledgment v
Foreword vi
Preface vii
Messages viii
Introduction 1
Sea cucumber Fishery, Conservation
and Management 3
Glossary 4
External Parts 6
Family Caudinidae 8
Acaudina sp. 9
Family Holothuriidae 10
Actinopyga echinites 11
Actinopyga lecanora 12
Actinopyga mauritiana 14
Actinopyga palauensis 15
Actinopyga spinea 16
Actinopyga sp. 17
Bohadschia argus 18
Bohadschia marmorata 19
Bohadschia koellikeri 22
Bohadschia ocellata 23
Bohadschia vitiensis 24
Holothuria albiventer 26
Holothuria arenicola 27
Holothuria atra 28
Holothuria cavans 30
Holothuria coluber 31
Holothuria edulis 32
Holothuria flavomaculata 33
Holothuria fuscocinerea 34
Holothuria fuscogilva 35
Holothuria fuscopunctata 36
Holothuria gracilis 37
Holothuria hilla 38
Holothuria impatiens 39
Holothuria leucospilota 40
Holothuria lineata 41
Holothuria notabilis 42
ii
Holothuria pardalis 43
Holothuria pervicax 44
Holothuria scabra 45
Holothuria sp. 46
Holothuria whitmaei 47
Pearsonothuria graeffei 48
Family Stichopodidae 49
Stichopus chloronotus 50
Stichopus herrmanni 51
Stichopus horrens 52
Stichopus monotuberculatus 54
Stichopus noctivagus 56
Stichopus ocellatus 57
Stichopus quadrifasciatus 58
Stichopus rubermacolosus 59
Stichopus sp. 61
Stichopus vastus 62
Thelenota ananas 64
Thelenota anax 66
Thelenota rubralineata 67
Family Synaptidae 68
Euapta godeffroyi 69
Synapta maculata 69
Synapta sp. 69
References 70
About the Author 73
iii
Holothuria coluber
iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
v
Republic of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
Marine Science Institute
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
FOREWORD
Some of the species documented in this field guide have not been
reported from other parts of the country, and others are potentially new species.
It is likely that there are other species yet to be discovered from the nearshore
and offshore areas around Palawan. This further highlights the rich marine
biodiversity resource of Palawan and the need for concerted species
conservation and fishery management efforts.
vi
Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Puerto Princesa City, Philippines
PREFACE
vii
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office
Puerto Princesa City, Philippines
MESSAGE
FELIZARDO B. CAYATOC
PENR Officer
DENR-PENRO Palawan, Philippines
viii
MESSAGE
ix
Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines
MESSAGE
x
Republic of the Philippines
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Puerto Princesa City, Philippines
MESSAGE
xi
MESSAGE
This field guide provides the needed information to identify the different
kinds of sea cucumbers commonly seen in Palawan. This knowledge is needed
for management and conservation.
I stand with Jane Goodall who said “Only if we understand, can we care.
Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved”.
xii
MESSAGE
xiii
Stichopus horrens
xiv
INTRODUCTION
2
SEA CUCUMBER FISHERY, CONSERVATION, AND
MANAGEMENT
3
P AL AW AN , P H I L I P P I N E S
Man and Biosphere Reserve
4
GLOSSARY
5
EXTERNAL PARTS OF SEA CUCUMBER
Tentacles
Mouth
Holothuria leucospilota
Blotch
Anus
Anal teeth
Actinopyga lecanora
6
Papillae
Holothuria coluber
Papillae
Tube feet/
podia
Stichopus horrens
Stichopus horrens
Cuvierian tubules
Anus
Bohadschia argus
Bohadschia argus
7
Order Molpadida
Family Caudinidae
8
Family Caudinidae
15 cm
Acaudina sp.
Key Features:
9
Order Holothuriida
Family Holothuriidae
peltate
tentacles
Cuvierian tubules
10
Family Holothuriidae
Size: 12 cm
Key Features:
11
Family Holothuriidae
Size: 12 cm
Key Features:
12
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Variants of Actinopyga lecanora
13
Family Holothuriidae
Dorsal
Ventral
15 cm
Key Features:
14
Family Holothuriidae
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Key Features:
15
Family Holothuriidae
Size: 9 cm
Key Features:
16
Family Holothuriidae
14 cm
Photo: Jontila et al. 2014
Actinopyga sp.
Key Features:
• The dorsal is black with dark
brown patches. Anal teeth
are present thus identified as
Actinopyga sp.
• It is found in shallow coral
reefs.
• Maximum size: unknown
• Common size: 15 cm
17
Family Holothuriidae
Est. size 27 cm
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Key Features:
18
Family Holothuriidae
Key Features:
19
Common variant of Bohadschia marmorata.
20
Juveniles of Bohadschia marmorata measuring ~ 6 cm.
21
Family Holothuriidae
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Key Features:
22
Family Holothuriidae
33 cm
Key Features:
23
Family Holothuriidae
27 cm
Key Features:
24
Anus
Photo: RG Dolorosa
25
Family Holothuriidae
Dorsal
14 cm
Ventral
Photo: Jontila et al. 2014
Key Features:
26
Family Holothuriidae
16 cm
Key Features:
27
Family Holothuriidae
Scale: 1 cm
Size: 13 cm
Key Features:
28
Sand-free Holothuria atra in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park measuring
about 100 cm.
Photo: RG Dolorosa
29
Family Holothuriidae
Dorsal
Ventral
13 cm
Photo: Jontila et al. 2014
Key Features:
30
Family Holothuriidae
Key Features:
31
Family Holothuriidae
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Key Features:
32
Family Holothuriidae
Key Features:
33
Family Holothuriidae
Key Features:
34
Family Holothuriidae
Est. Size: 40 cm
Photo: RG Dolorosa
35
Family Holothuriidae
34 cm
Key Features:
36
Family Holothuriidae
17 cm
Key Features:
37
Family Holothuriidae
14 cm
Key Features:
38
Family Holothuriidae
16 cm
Key Features:
39
Family Holothuriidae
Est. size: 26 cm
Key Features:
40
Family Holothuriidae
12 cm
Key Features:
41
Family Holothuriidae
Anus
8 cm
Key Features:
42
Family Holothuriidae
18 cm
Key Features:
43
Family Holothuriidae
18 cm
Key Features:
44
Family Holothuriidae
Key Features:
45
Family Holothuriidae
Family Holothuriidae
15 cm
Holothuria sp.
Key Features:
46
Family Holothuriidae
Est. Size: 40 cm
Photo: RG Dolorosa
47
Family Holothuriidae
27 cm
Key Features:
48
Order Synallactida
Family Stichopodidae
49
Family Stichopodidae
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Key Features:
50
Family Stichopodidae
Est. Size: 26 cm
Key Features:
51
Family Stichopodidae
33 cm
Key Features:
52
Family Stichopodidae
Variants of Stichopus horrens from Johnson Is., Roxas, Palawan.
36 cm
53
Family Stichopodidae
38 cm
Key Features:
54
Family Stichopodidae
17 cm
34 cm
55
Family Stichopodidae
Size:23 cm
Key Features:
56
Family Stichopodidae
27 cm
Key Features:
57
Family Stichopodidae
reddish papillae
36 cm
Key Features:
58
Family Stichopodidae
26 cm
Key Features:
59
Family Stichopodidae
27 cm
37 cm
Est. size: 35 cm
60
Family Stichopodidae
Est. size: 25 cm
Stichopus sp.
Key Features:
61
Family Stichopodidae
43 cm
62
Family Stichopodidae
34 cm
63
Family Stichopodidae
37 cm
64
Photo: RG Dolorosa
65
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Family Stichopodidae
66
Family Stichopodidae
Photo: J Selgrath
67
Order Apodida
Family Synaptidae
Synapta maculata
68
Family Synaptidae
Euapta godeffroyi
Photo: RG Dolorosa
Synapta maculata
Synaptula sp.
Photo: RG Dolorosa
69
REFERENCES
70
Jontila JBS, Balisco RAT, Matillano JA. 2014. The Sea cucumbers
(Holothuroidea) of Palawan, Philippines. AACL Bioflux, 7(3): 194-206.
Jontila JBS, Balisco RAT, Batin G. 2017. Species composition, density and
distribution of sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea) at Arreceffi Island, Honda Bay,
Palawan, Philippines. SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin, 37: 21-28.
Jontila JBS, Monteclaro HM, Quinitio GF, Santander-Deleon SM, Altamirano JP.
2018a. Status of sea cucumber fishery and populations across sites with
different levels of management in Palawan, Philippines. Ocean and Coastal
Management, 165: 225-234.
Jontila JBS, Monteclaro HM, Quinitio GF, Santander-Deleon SM, Altamirano JP.
2018b. The Sea cucumber Fishery in Palawan, Philippines. Sakura Science
Symposium proceedings. 12-1: 84-88.
Massin C, Zulfigar Y, Hwai ATS, Rizal Boss SZ. 2002. The genus Stichopus
(Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the Johore Marine Park (Malaysia) with
the description of two new species. Bulletin De L’Institut Royal Des Sciences
Naturelles De Belgique. Biologie, 72: 73–99.
Mercier A, Battaglene SC, Hamel JF. 1999. Daily burrowing cycle and feeding
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125-156.
Miller JE, Pawson DL. 1990. Swimming Sea cucumbers (Echinodermata:
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Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 18 pp.
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150 pp.
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367-386.
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71
Samyn Y. 2013. Holothuria albiventer. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2013: e.T180439A1630849. Accessed on 06 July 2023.
Schoppe S. 2000. A guide to common shallow water sea stars, brittle stars, sea
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holothurian species in CITES Appendix II. Beche-de-mer Information
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
73
74