California golden gorgonian, Garibaldi and Sheephead wrasse fishes 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
Stock Photo: 30922 Species: California sheephead wrasse, Garibaldi, California golden gorgonian, Semicossyphus pulcher, Hypsypops rubicundus, Muricea californica Location: San Clemente Island, California, USA Format: Digital 1.61:1 Copyright © Phillip Colla, all rights reserved worldwide. Purchase a print of this image Request a review copy of this image Keywords: algae, animal, animalia, california, california golden gorgonian, channel islands, coral, creature, damselfish, environment, fish, garibaldi, gorgonian, habitat, hypsypops rubicundus, invertebrate, island, kelp forest, marine, marine invertebrate, marine plant, muricea californica, nature, ocean, oceans, offshore, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, plant, san clemente island, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, semicossyphus pulcher, sheephead, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, underwater, usa, wildlife, wrasse |