Preliminary survey of Conidae; Fleming, 1822Family of Ayoke Island, North Eastern Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

The Philippines is part of the Coral Triangle, which is thought to be a biodiversity hotspot for marine life, including Conus species. However, this region also has the highest data gaps, particularly in the north-eastern region of Mindanao. Ayoke Island lies at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, North Eastern part of Minadanao, Philippines. Cone snails are distinctive marine animals with growing significance in biomedical research and study due to their conopeptides or conotoxins. This study aimed to account the species of Conidae; Fleming, 1822Family in Ayoke Island. Purposive sampling was employed. Three sampling sites were established. The specimens, both live and fossilized, were collected from the sampling sites by hand-picking during low tide and gleaning, as well as from some locals' collections. Only those that belong to Conidae family were scored. A total of four hundred sixteen (416) cone shells comprising thirty one (31) species belonging to Conidae; Fleming, 1822 family were scored and accounted. Based from the relative abundance, two (2) species namely, Conus frigidus Reeve, 1848 and Conus retifer Menke, 1829 were uncommon in the sampling stations. The remaining twenty nine (29) species were all occasional.