What is another word for Order Alcyonaria?
Pronunciation: [ˈɔːdəɹ ˌalsɪənˈe͡əɹi͡ə] (IPA) 
Order Alcyonaria, commonly known as soft corals, are a diverse group of marine organisms that inhabit tropical waters. The soft corals get their name from the fact that they lack a hard external skeleton, which sets them apart from hard corals like the reef-building species. Soft corals come in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors and provide important habitat and food sources for many marine animals. Some synonyms for Order Alcyonaria include octocorals, which refers to the eight tentacles these corals possess, and gorgonians, a reference to the Greek mythological creature Gorgon with snakes for hair, which these corals may resemble.
