Documenting a First Soft Coral Occurrence at the Ghogha Coast, Gulf of Cambay, India

This study reports the first documented occurrence of a soft coral species in the highly dynamic and turbid intertidal zone of Ghogha, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The discovery expands the known distribution of octocorals along India's western coast and provides insights into their adaptability to extreme environmental conditions. Specimen identification was based on detailed morphological analysis and habitat characterization. This finding highlights the region's previously underreported cnidarian diversity and underscores the necessity for comprehensive ecological surveys and targeted conservation strategies.