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A New Species of the Genus Dendronephthya Kükenthal 1905 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) and Associated Crustaceans From Covelong, Chennai, India

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Abstract

In the present study, we described a new species of octocoral Dendronephthya johnsonii sp. nov. from the Covelong coast, Chennai, India. The new species is compared with the congeners D. costatorubra (Henderson 1909), D. cervicornis (Wright and Studer 1889), D. hemprichi (Klunzinger 1877) and D. kluzingeri (Studer 1888) found in the Indo-Pacific region. However, D. johnsonii sp. nov. can be distinguished based on the arrangement of polyps and structure of sclerites on the interior and exterior of basal stem, branch surface and polyp head. The D. johnsonii sp. nov. is so far known only from the type locality. Description of the holotype, paratypes, coloration and habitat were discussed in detail.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. T. Sasipraba, Vice Chancellor, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai for her encouragement and support. We are thankful to the authorities of Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology for the necessary facilities. We thank the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism which greatly improved the final version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Chennai, 600119, Tamil Nadu, India

    K. Kunjulakshmi, S. Prakash & Amit Kumar

Authors
  1. K. Kunjulakshmi
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  2. S. Prakash
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  3. Amit Kumar
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Contributions

KK, SP and AK collected the material. KK and SP identified the soft coral and took pictures. SP identified the associated communities. KK wrote the initial draft. SP and AK reviewed, edited and approved the final draft.

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Correspondence to S. Prakash or Amit Kumar.

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Kunjulakshmi, K., Prakash, S. & Kumar, A. A New Species of the Genus Dendronephthya Kükenthal 1905 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) and Associated Crustaceans From Covelong, Chennai, India. Thalassas 39, 839–846 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-023-00580-3

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