Red gorgonian (left) and California golden gorgonian (right) on rocky reef, San Clemente Island

Red gorgonian (left) and California golden gorgonian (right) on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. Gorgonians are filter-feeding temperate colonial species that live 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.

Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23452
Lat/Long: 32.81739, -118.35018 (Coordinates: 32° 49' 2.60" N, 118° 21' 0.65" W)
Format: Digital 16:9

Keywords: animal, animalia, california, channel islands, coral, creature, environment, gorgonian, habitat, invertebrate, lophogorgia chilensis, marine, marine invertebrate, nature, ocean, oceans, offshore, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, red gorgonian, reef, san clemente island, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, seascape, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, underwater, underwater landscape, usa, wildlife

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Categories:

Animal > Marine Invertebrate > Coral > Soft Coral > Gorgonian
Location > Oceans > Pacific > California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico) > Channel Islands > San Clemente Island
Location > USA > California > San Clemente Island
Subject > Technique > Underwater

This professional quality stock photo can be licensed in high resolution form by contacting the photographer: Phillip Colla, photos@oceanlight.com, (760) 707-7153, more info and photographer bio.