First report of South African flabellid coral Truncatoflabellum zuluense Cairns & Keller, 1993 (Scleractinia: Flabellidae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Limited research has been conducted on azooxanthellate scleractinian corals in Indian waters due to their wide vertical distributional range. The Flabellidae family of corals, which includes the Truncatoflabellum genus, can be found at various depths, ranging from shallow regions to the deeper parts of the oceans. In this particular investigation, a species of Flabellidae coral, Truncatoflabellum zuluense Cairns & Keller, 1993, was identified in Indian waters for the first time. This species was recorded at a depth of 31 m. Previously, it had only been documented off Zululand in South Africa, at depths ranging from 62 – 84 m. The addition of this species in Indian waters is significant as it expands its zoogeographic range beyond its original location. This finding emphasizes the importance of ongoing research on these corals in different regions to gain a better understanding of their distribution and diversity.