Definition
Alcyonacea represents an order of soft corals, sea fans, and sea pens, all characterized by polyps with eight tentacles. Unlike hard corals, they lack a rigid calcium carbonate skeleton, making them flexible. Think of them as the dancers of the coral reef, swaying gracefully in the current. 💃 They play a key role in the marine ecosystem, providing shelter and food for other organisms. Their soft tissues often contain symbiotic algae.