This book is an essential guide for anyone engaged in scuba diving, underwater photography, or snorkelling, providing a detailed understanding of the diverse species that populate coral reefs.
Publication Date: 14 May 2024
ISBN-13 979-8986828732
Available as a paperback and hardcover on Amazon, and as eBook on Apple store
It covers the critical features, families, and species of corals, sponges, bryozoans, and sea squirts, highlighting the importance of recognizing these organisms to appreciate the underwater environment fully. Additionally, the book explores the habitats of nudibranchs, shrimps, and fish, essential for experts in these areas.
Ideal for scientists and reef conservationists, especially those conducting surveys, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the benthic community. It integrates the latest scientific findings and taxonomic classifications up to its publication. The text categorizes reef animals and marine plants into ten species, including corals and allies (Cnidaria) and sea squirts (Tunicata). It provides insights into commonly found species and remarkable ones like the immortal jellyfish and the dangerous box jellyfish.
With a focus on corals and anemones, which make up over half of its content, this book underscores their crucial role and astounding diversity in marine ecosystems. What's more, it addresses a significant gap in the field. Despite ongoing changes in coral taxonomy, there has been a lack of updated, accessible guides for over two decades. This book fills this void, shedding light on lesser-known coral reef residents, some of which have been overlooked for even longer.
This publication is part of the Reef ID Books series, which spans eight volumes covering an impressive 8,500 species, making it an invaluable resource for understanding and conserving the richness of reef ecosystems.
