Octocorals and antipatharians (black corals) are usually among the main biotic groups in tropical rocky reefs. With a high diversity (111 species), abundance, and endemism, octocoral communities are a dominant seascape feature in the rocky reefs of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), hosting a particular invertebrate fauna and rich fish communities (Cortés et al., 2017; Sánchez, 2017). In the Colombian Pacific, studies of octocorals in rocky substrates are scarce and are restricted to shallow waters (<30 m). Only 14 species have been found so far (Cortés et al., 2017), but there could be more than 22 species according to unpublished reports.

Depth range
10- 60 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
28 x (total of 2344 words)

Classification
* Presents original data
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'

Fields
Biodiversity
Community structure

Focusgroups
Antipatharia (Black Corals)
Octocorallia (Soft Corals)

Locations
Colombia - Pacific Ocean

Platforms
SCUBA (open-circuit or unspecified)