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

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.