identification of holothurians species (holothuroidea: echinodermata) in the intertidal zones of chabahar bay

to identify the species of sea cucumbers belong to holothuroidea in the intertidal zones of chabahar bay, field studies were conducted during one year from november 2008 to september 2009. the area of study was located at the farthest end of southeast of iran in province of sistan and balouchestan between 25°16́́ 61̋ and 25°22́ 47 ̋ north, and between 60°39́ 90 ̋ and 60°24́ 38 ̋ east. 5 sampling stations along the shoreline zone was determined based on geomorphological characteristics, habitat and accessibility. bimonthly sampling was carried out in the selected stations in complete tide and all samples of each species were collected. then samples were transferred to laboratory and identified based on extracted ossicles with valid identification keys .the four species of sea cucumbers were identified: holothuria leucospilota, holothuria arenicola, holothuria insignis, holothuria sp. which bolnge to family of holothuroidae and order of elasipodida. the maximum frequency of holothuroidea was measured in january (2009) in station 4.