Pilot Survey of Corallimorpharian (Cnidaria) Diversity in the Gulf of Thailand

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Bancha Nilkerd
Akarapong Swatdipong
Jintana Salaenoil
Suriyan Tunkijjanukij

Abstract

Corallimorpharians, or coral-like sea anemones, are globally distributed throughout the coral reef ecosystems. Their occurrence within Thai waters, however, has been less studied and information relating to their taxonomy is highly required. The present study aims to conduct a taxonomical survey of corallimorpharians along the Gulf of Thailand. Both morphology and nucleotide sequence information were used for identification. Extensive surveys were conducted from November 2010 to December 2011, during which corallimorpharian samples were collected through a series of scuba dives. Three genera of the family Discosomatidae were found. Rhodactis sp. was the most commonly encountered at nearly all sites, occupyingboth coral reefs and rocky habitats. Rhodactis sp. samples were notably dominant in all the sampling locations within Chuang Island (Chonburi). Metarhodactis sp. samples were found at Kut Island (Trat), Samet Island (Rayong) and Ngam Noi Island (Chumphon), typically on shallow coral reefs at depths of 3-10 meters. The single species of Amplexidiscus, A. fenestrafer Dunn and Hamner, 1980, was found at a small number of sites, including Chuang Island (Chonburi), Rang Island, and Kut Island (both in Trat). Nucleotide sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and small subunit ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA) genes, however, permits ready genus discrimination and identification which is feasibly informative in the taxonomical classification of other corallimorpharians.

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How to Cite
Nilkerd, B., Swatdipong, A., Salaenoil, J., & Tunkijjanukij, S. (2015). Pilot Survey of Corallimorpharian (Cnidaria) Diversity in the Gulf of Thailand. Journal of Fisheries and Environment, 39(3), 30–42. Retrieved from https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JFE/article/view/80520
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