A New Record of Soft Coral, Sarcophyton subviride Tixier-Durivault, 1958 (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia)-from Great Nicobar Island, India

Sarcophyton subviride Tixier-Durivault, 1958 (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea), a soft coral, is reported for the first time from Indian waters. This species has previously been recorded from Aldabra Island and Reunion. Despite being the third record in the Indian Ocean, this is the first occurrence from Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman Sea. The diagnostic features of colony sclerites in the surface layer of the colony have clubs and tubercle shaped prominences, whereas slender spindles, cylinders and oval-shaped sclerites are seen in the coenenchyme tissue. Further, few variations in morphology and length of sclerites in the colony were observed. These variations were discussed type specimens published elsewhere in the present study.

Automated summary

Sarcophyton subviride Tixier-Durivault, 1958, a soft coral, is reported for the first time in Indian waters. This species has previously been documented in other regions, but this is the first occurrence in Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman Sea. Variations in the structural features of the colony were observed and discussed in comparison with other type specimens.