Pulau Bunyu merupakan wilayah administrasi yang memiliki berbagai jenis keanekaragaman biota perairan di ekosistem pesisir salah satunya kepiting tapal kuda. Terdapat 4 jenis spesies tapal kuda yaitu Limulus polyphemus, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, Tachypleus gigas dan Tachypleus tridentatus. Morfometri untuk mempelajari variasi, perubahan ukuran, dan perubahan bentuk pada suatu organisme. Indeks kondisi untuk mengukur tingkat kondisi sifat pertumbuhan untuk menentukan siklus reproduksi dan musim pemijahan. Tujuan penelitian yaitu menganalisis morfometri meristik dan indeks kondisi tapal kuda di perairan Bunyu. Metode penelitian deskriptif kuantitatif. Penentuan lokasi penelitian purposive sampling dengan ikut nelayan alat tangkap pukat hela di perairan Bunyu selama 2 bulan dari Januari 2024-Maret 2024. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan secara survei langsung di lapangan dengan pengambilan sampel sebanyak 24 sampel dimana tiap bulan dilakukan pengambilan sampel sebanyak 4 kali dengan 3 kali perulangan (stasiun) yang dilakukan pada saat air pasang laut (air besar). Pengambilan data berupa morfometri dan meristik serta panjang total, berat total dan jenis kelamin yang dilakukan langsung di lapangan. Setelah dilakukan pengambilan data penelitian, sampel di lepas ke alam (release). Berdasarkan hasil penelitian didapatkan total sampel sebanyak 81 ekor diantara 40 ekor jantan dan 41 ekor betina. Hasil penelitian analisis morfometri didapatkan jenis spesies T. tridentatus. Pola pertumbuhan jantan bersifat allometri positif dan betina bersifat allometri negatif. Indeks kondisi jantan dan betina berbentuk tubuh kurus. Perlunya menjaga dan melestarikan biota purba ini karena memiliki pertumbuhan yang cukup lama hingga mencapai 10 tahun. Upaya me-release dari hasil tangkapan merupakan salah satu upaya konservasi agar biota tapal kuda tetap lestari dan berkelanjutan.

Kata Kunci: Indeks Kondisi, Morfometri, Meristik, T. tridentatus, Bunyu

Bunyu Island is an administrative area where Horseshoe crabs are among the many aquatic biota found in coastal environments. Horseshoe crabs come in four different species: Tachypleus gigas, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, Limulus polyphemus, and Tachypleus tridentatus. Morphometric can be used to examine how an organism varies in size and shape. The condition index was used to ascertain there productive cycle and spawning season which measures the degree of growth trait conditions. The aim of the study was to analyze horseshoe condition index and meristic morphometric in Bunyu waters. The method employed quantitative descriptive research. Determination of the location of the purposive sampling study by participating in trawl fishing gear fishermen in Bunyu waters for 2 months fromJanuary 2024-March 2024.Sampling was carried out by direct survey in the fieldwith a sample of 24 samples where each month sampling was carried out 4 timeswith 3 repetitions (stations) which were carried out during high tide (big water).Direct fieldwork was done to gather data on morphometric, meristic, total length, total weight, and sex parameters. Following the completion of the research data gathering, the samples were released back into the nature. A total of 81 samples 40males and 41 females were obtained based on the research findings. The species type T. tridentatus was determined by the morphometric analysis study results. Males grew with a positive allometry, while females grew with a negative allometry. Both the male and female condition indices were low. With a growth period of up to ten years, this ancient biota requires maintenance and preservation. One of the conservation initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the horseshoe biota is the discharge of the catch. Keywords: Condition Index, Morphometric, Meristic, T. tridentatus, Bunyu