About the new Octocoral Finder: this is a practical identification tool for the widespread, shallow water (<30m), reef associated Octocoral genera of the tropical Indo Pacific. Unlike traditional taxonomic tools for soft corals, sea whips, fans and pens, the Octocoral Finder is approachable & easy-to-use. This is achieved using a visual-decision-tool design, reduced terminology, an emphasis on plain language and large, professionally shot-for-purpose images.
The Octocoral Finder reflects the recent updated molecular taxonomic framework (McFadden et. al. 2022), superseding the previous preferred field tool Soft Corals & Sea Fans (Fabricius & Alderslade 2000). The user-friendly visual-decision-tool design is suited to both specialist and non-specialist users including scientists, students, naturalists, conservation professionals and divers. The Octocoral Finder builds on the success of the Coral Finder (Kelley, 2022 - www.byoguides.com - 5 editions) and provides field workers and trainers with a capacity building tool for this important and much neglected benthic group. The Octocoral Finder makes learning of the Octocoral fauna and the collection of reliable genus level data possible for the first time.