Community structure and spatial distribution of benthic fauna in the Oualidia lagoon (Moroccan Atlantic coast)

M Zoanthid taxonomy is typically based on polyp structure and coenenchyme characteristics. Their morphological identification is still understudied. Zoanthids were seen to increase in the past decade and covered almost entire intertidal zone, however their diversity was unknown and extensive work was then carried out. The coastal area of entire Gujarat state was studied. Rocky intertidal zone was surveyed monthly and Zoanthids were recorded. Morphological diversity was studied for the colour of oral disc and the polyp structure and colony morphology. Colour card technique was utilized for Zoanthids, which proves to be an effective tool for the assessment of zoanthid and their colour morphs. 25 colour morphs of Zoanthus sansibaricus, 5 of Z. aff. sociatus, 5 of Z. vietnamensis, 2 of Z. kuroshio, 4 of Palythoa mutuki, 2 of P. heliodidscus, 3 of P. tuberculosa. Site wise distribution showed that Zoanthids from Marine National Park exhibited more of Fluorescent colour morphs and rest showed more of different colour patterns. Rocky intertidal zone of Sutrapada showed maximum diversity and Okha showed least diversity. Colony patterns taken as attributes for the study of diversity resulted in understanding the utilization of the substratum. Flat and bulbous colonies of Palythoa tuberculosa and stoloniferous colonies of Zoanthus spp. and Palythoa mutuki and P. heliodiscus were recorded. It was concluded that substratum played a major role in understanding the colony pattern and showed that there was species wise change in colony pattern. The paper will describe about the morphology of both the polyp and colony.