First report of soft coral Sarcophyton birkelandi Verseveldt, 1978 (Anthozoa: Alcyonacea) in Indian waters from Andaman Islands

Abstract

Sarcophyton birkelandi Verseveldt, 1978 is reported as a new record to Indian waters from Andaman Islands. Colony morphology, sclerite structures and measurements were extracted and examined from the surface and coenenchyme of both capitulum and stalk for confirmation of species. Structural differentiation was observed in sclerite shape such as club shaped, needle shaped and spindle shaped with a variety of sizes and orientation pattern.

Keywords

• alcyoniidae
• andaman & nicobar islands
• craggy island
• new record
• octocorralia.