What is another word for alcyonacea?
Pronunciation: [ˌalsɪənˈe͡ɪsi͡ə] (IPA) 
Alcyonacea is a scientific name given to a group of soft-bodied marine organisms that belong to the phylum Cnidaria. These organisms are commonly found in coral reefs and are also known as sea fans or sea whips. Synonyms for Alcyonacea include soft corals, octocorals, and gorgonians. Soft corals are different from hard corals in that they lack a calcified skeleton, while octocorals have eight-branched tentacles and gorgonians have a tree-like branching structure. Alcyonacea play a vital role in marine ecosystems and provide shelter and food for a variety of marine organisms. These organisms are also important indicators of the health of coral reefs, which are threatened globally by pollution and climate change.
