Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 47 (01), January 2018, pp. 96-102 Diversity and distribution of gorgonians (Octocorallia) in the Long Island and it’s adjacent areas in Middle Andaman, India J. S. Yogesh Kumar1*, S. Geetha2, C. Raghunathan3 & R. Sornaraj2 1Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Government of India, Digha – 721428, West Bengal, India. 2Research Department of Zoology, Kamaraj College (Manonmaniam Sundaranar University), Thoothukudi – 628003, Tamil Nadu, India. 3Zoological Survey of India (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Government of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata - 700 053,West Bengal, India. [E.mail:
[email protected] ] Received 05 November 2015 ; revised 17 November 2016 The diversity and distribution of gorgonian were assessed at seven sites at Long Island and it’s adjusting areas in Middle Andaman during 2013 to 2015. A total of 28 species of gorgonians are reported in shallow reef areas. Maximum life form was observed in Guaiter Island and Minimum in Headlamp Patch. A significant positive correlation was observed between the Islands, the species diversity was high for the genera Junceella, Subergorgia and Ellisella. Principal Component Analysis also supported for this three genes. [Keywords: Diversity, Gorgonian, Octocoral, Long Island, Middle Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar, India] Introduction The gorgonians popularly called as sea In India, the study on gorgonians fans and sea whips are marine sessile taxonomy initiated by Thomson and coelenterates with colonial skeleton and living Henderson15,16 and 50 species were reported of polyps1. They are exceptionally productive and a which 26 species were new from oyster banks of valuable natural asset.