Spawn release of a Sclerophytum soft coral species in Okinawa Island, Japan.

We report the first documentation of in situ release of reproductive materials by female colonies of a soft coral, in this case Sclerophytum cf. heterospiculatum, from the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan. Spawn release was observed on the nights of September 2 and 3, 2023 (two and three nights after the full moon). This observation widens our knowledge on the reproductive strategies of octocorals, providing insights into mechanisms of persistence of soft corals in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]