Holoturians or sea cucumbers are referred as most unusual group of phylum echinodermata belonging to the class Holothuroidea. Holothurians are found throughout in the coastal areas and in the deepest parts of the ocean. They play a vital role in habitat recycling, gathering organic detritus and bacteria from the water or sand for food. These particles are digested by the organism in order to extra
ct nutrients, a process that helps turn over sediments to maintain an environment that supports other marine life. Pakistan coast is rich in flora and fauna like any other coast of the world.A total of 36 species of the Phylum Echinodermata pertaining to 25 genera and 19 families are reported from Pakistan (Tahera, 1996). Among them 11 species belonging to the class Holothuroidea, of which 7 belong to the family Holothuriidae and 4 pertaining to family Cucumariidae. Till now 4 genera of the family Cucumariidae are reported from the Indo-West Pacific region viz., Aslia Rowe, 1970, Staurothyone H.L. Clark, 1938, Stolus Selenka, 1867 and Cucumaria de Blainville, 1834 by Clark and Rowe (1971). (1993) reported some economically important regular sea urchins of Echinodermata. Tahera, Q and Q.B Kazmi (1995) recorded Holothuria (Platyperona) difficilis,first time from the northern Arabian Sea (Pakistan). Tahera, Q and Naushaba, R., (1995) addition to the echinoderm fauna of Pakistan. Hoque, (1969) recorded echinoderms of Pakistan
Tahera, Q. (1996b) provided a checklist of Echinoderm fauna of Pakistan. (1997) recorded Synaptula recta species new to Pakistan waters. (2004) reported an addition to the existing fauna of the family-Cucumariidae (Holothuroidea; Echinodermata) from Pakistan. Kazmi (2005) recorded twelve species Aslia fobesi, Staurothyone rosacea, Stolus buccalis, Actinopyga mauritiana, Holothuria (Thymiosycia) arenicola, Holothuria (Platyperona) difficilis, Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota, Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis, Synaptula recta, Cucumaria conjungens, Synapta inhaerens, Holothuria (Halodemia) atra from Pakistan coast. Clark and Rowe (1971) reported also twelve species Actinopyga mauritiana, Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis, Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota, Aslia fobesi, Hemithyone semperi (Bell), Staurothyone rosacea, Stolus buccalis, Stolus conjugens, Thyone dura, Actinocucumis typicus, Cladolabes acicula, Ohshimella ehrenbergii from Pakistan coast.
