Language: English with bilingual summary in English and Russian
Benthic Fauna of the Bay of Nhatrang, Southern Vietnam, Volume 3 presents data on fauna, taxonomy and distribution of soft corals of the family Alcyoniidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). The species composition of soft corals of the Alcyoniidae is described for Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam, South China Sea. Particular attention was given to the phylogeny of the group as well as to the system of their taxonomical characters. The diagnoses of Octocorallia taxa, detailed descriptions of species morphology and arrangement of skeletal elements are presented. A total of 72 species of 8 genera of Alcyoniidae are described, 26 of them were found in the South China Sea for the first time. The monograph is intended for zoologists, hydrobiologists, and specialists on the ecology and environment protection.