International Workshop on the Taxonomy of Octocorals 2005

Sponsored by the University of Kerala. Held in Trivandrum, India. March 21-26.

The Southwestern coast of India was the setting for this years soft coral taxonomy workshop, the first one to be held since 2001. Representatives from Iran, Egypt, Thailand, Hong Kong, Italy, Canada, England, India, and the United States made up the class of twenty students.  This hands on course in identifying tropical soft corals and sea fans was taught by two of the world's most experienced octocoral taxonomists, Dr. Phil Alderslade from the Darwin Museum in Australia and Dr. Leen van Ofwegen of the National Museum, Netherlands.  

Hundreds of soft coral samples were assembled for examination by the workshops coordinators, instructors and attendees.  Six days were spent in the laboratory studying corals representing the most common genera and growth forms found at diving depths. They covered a geographical range from the East coast of Africa, across the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, to the central Indo-Pacific and on thru the Eastern Pacific. The specimens were dissected to reveal key features of the polyps, sclerites or skeletal elements, and variations within the corals. 

AquaTouch representative Michael Janes was honored to be invited to attend. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit this fascinating part of the world. When asked what part of the this workshop impressed him the most he answered echoing the sentiments of his mentor, Dr. Alderslade. "I was amazed how for eight days twenty-two people came from such different cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles to share a common passion for soft corals and everyone worked so well together. I have great respect for the work they do and I am pleased to call them my friends."  

Workshop classroom                                                                "Hands on" lab work

Dr. Leen with a 6 ft. long Junceella sp.                                               Many more specimens

This years class                                                          Sclerite examination

Fishing boats on  Shankhumuggam beach preparing for another adventure in the Arabian Sea.

Evening socializing and slide shows                      Fresh coconut with breakfast

Kovalam "Black Sand" Beach                        Evening sunsets over the Arabian Sea