Garibaldi and California golden gorgonians on rocky reef, Hypsypops rubicundus

Garibaldi and California golden gorgonians on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by. San Clemente Island, USA, Hypsypops rubicundus, Muricea californica, natural history stock photograph, photo id 23443
Garibaldi and California golden gorgonians on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by. San Clemente Island, USA

Species: California golden gorgonian, Hypsypops rubicundus, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23443
Format: Digital 2:3
Keywords: animal, animalia, california, california golden gorgonian, channel islands, coral, creature, damselfish, environment, fish, garibaldi, gorgonian, habitat, hypsypops rubicundus, invertebrate, kelp forest, marine, marine fish, marine invertebrate, muricea californica, nature, ocean, oceans, offshore, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, san clemente island, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, seascape, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, teleost fish, underwater, underwater landscape, usa, wildlife
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