Bivalves and gastropods of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines

Abstract

In this study of marine bivalves and gastropods of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), Palawan, Philippines, we photo-document 96 species, including 17 species of bivalves (in seven families), and 79 species of gastropods (in 29 families). Of these, 64 species (eight bivalves and 56 gastropods species) were new recorded from the park. The list also includes the seven species of giant clams which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and three nationally protected gastropod species (Cassis cornuta, Charonia tritonis and Tectus niloticus). Thirty-six species that were previously reported at the park were not found in this study, which suggests that there are at least 132 species of gastropods and bivalves at TRNP. Our observations were limited at intertidal and shallow subtidal reefs in the park, suggesting that the number of species in the list may rise with an extensive survey.