本書係作者戴昌鳳教授從事八放珊瑚研究三十餘年的成果總結，內容包括台灣海域八放珊瑚共291種的物種形態與分布描述，增進對我國海洋生物多樣性的了解，促進八放珊瑚相關研究的進展，裨益海洋資源保育及資源永續利用。
This book summarizes the taxonomic and ecological studies of octocorals in Taiwan by the author during the past 35 years. It includes a brief description on the distribution and ecological features of octocorals in Taiwan, along with detailed descriptions of 291 species of shallow-water octocorals belonging to three orders and 21 families. It shows that the species diversity of octocorals in the waters surrounding Taiwan is very high. This book presents the first detailed study of octocorallia fauna in Taiwan, it is also the first of its kind in West Pacific Ocean.