The comprehensive information contained in the guide includes over 2,500 reef fish, of which 25 species are new to science. It summarizes 60 years of research and exploration and brings greater understanding and valuation of the immense biodiversity of reef fish in the East Indies. The authors, scientists Mark Erdmann and Gerry Allen, have spent much of their lives at sea discovering, studying and conserving some of the most rare and beautiful fish in the world. The proceeds of this CI-produced app will support CI Indonesia’s marine conservation program.
Designed for iPad and Kindle Fire, “Reef Fishes Of The East Indies” does not stream content, so can be used out at sea with no Internet connection required. The app contains many useful and interactive features including search, note taking and drawing features, detailed entries for each species, and photo sharing by email and social media.
This is the perfect digital guide for divers and nature lovers to use in the office, school, home or out on the open sea.
The coverage area of the app includes the Coral Triangle (including Indonesia, Bali, the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands), which alone boasts 37 percent of the world’s coral reef fish species — more than anywhere else on the planet. The research also covers the South China Sea (including Brunei Darussalam to Vietnam and Singapore), the Andaman Sea (including Thailand, Myanmar and the Andaman Islands of India) and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. It covers all shallow water (0-75 meter) reef-associated fish species known from the region, including both obligate reef dwellers and those that are commonly observed passing through reef areas or in the soft bottom areas just adjacent to reefs.
From the majestic manta ray, to the gorgeous, jewel-like mandarin fish, there are 2,655 species in over 3,000 high definition photos. Organized by classification, family and species, the app will be regularly updated to keep up with scientists’ new discoveries. Erdmann and Allen remain busy discovering new species, having most recently found a new species of “walking” Bamboo Shark (Hemiscyllium halmahera) in the waters off the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.