Identification of sea cucumber species around Hengam Island (Persian Gulf, Iran)

Abstract

Although sea cucumber is commercially important, its biology, ecology and dynamic of population have not been known yet in the Persian Gulf. With this respect, this study has been conducted to identify the species present around Hengam Island in the Persian Gulf. Six species of sea cucumber (four species belonging to the genus Holothuria and another two species belonging to the genus Stichopus) were collected on the sub-tidal zone of Hengam Island (Persian Gulf) via SCUBA diving at depths of 5–15 m in March–July 2012. The species identification was made using morphological keys and review of their ossicles.