Search results for Pelagic Hydroid Colony

Ocean sunfish recruiting fish near drift kelp to clean parasites, open ocean, Baja California.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Image ID: 03267  

Blue shark underneath drift kelp, open ocean.
Species: Blue shark, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 01006  

A blue shark swims through the open ocean in search of prey, backlit by the sunset.
Species: Blue shark, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 02286  

Parasitic zoanthid anemones cover, encrust and overwhelm a golden gorgonian. The gorgonian on the left has been completely parasitized by zoanthid anemones, while the gorgonian to the right remains free of zoanthids (for now). A garibaldi swims below the two sea fans. 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.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Luminescent parazoanthid, Zoanthid anemone, Giant kelp, Muricea californica, Parazoanthus lucificum, Savalia lucifica, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38493  

Ocean Sunfish swimming at the ocean surface in the Open Ocean.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 39406  

Ocean sunfish schooling near drift kelp, soliciting cleaner fishes, open ocean, Baja California.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Image ID: 06304  

Narcissis the Ocean Sunfish was So Handsome He Fell in Love with his Own Reflection, in the Open Ocean near San Diego.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 39460  

Los Islotes, famous for its friendly colony of California sea lions, part of Archipelago Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Aerial Photo.
Location: Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 32397  

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola Swims in the Open Ocean, near San Diego.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 39461  

Enormous Ocean sunfish and freediving photographer, open ocean.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03491  

Acorn Barnacle extends to feed in ocean current, amid colony of Corynactis anemones.
Species: Acorn barnacle, Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica, Megabalanus californicus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33455  

Los Islotes and Isla Partida, the northern part of Archipelago Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Aerial Photo. Islotes is famous for its friendly colony of California sea lions.
Location: Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 32402  

Ocean sunfish schooling, open ocean near San Diego.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03562  

Red gorgonian and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, San Clemente Island. 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.
Species: Red gorgonian, California golden gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38499  

Blue shark searching drift kelp for food, open ocean.
Species: Blue shark, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 02288  

Ocean sunfish and freediving photographer, open ocean.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03325  

Blue shark and yellowtail in the open ocean.
Species: North pacific yellowtail, Yellowtail, Kingfish, Prionace glauca, Seriola lalandi
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 01000  

Blue shark and offshore drift kelp paddy, open ocean.
Species: Blue shark, Macrocystis pyrifera, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 01078  

Blue shark and offshore drift kelp paddy, open ocean.
Species: Blue shark, Macrocystis pyrifera, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 01081  

Ocean sunfish reflected on a glassy surface in bluewater, open ocean, southern California.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 02413  

Acorn Barnacle extends to feed in ocean current, amid colony of Corynactis anemones.
Species: Acorn barnacle, Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica, Megabalanus californicus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33473  

Los Islotes, famous for its friendly colony of California sea lions, part of Archipelago Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Aerial Photo.
Location: Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 32409  

Dorsal and Caudal fins of the Ocean Sunfish Mola mola, as it Swims in the Open Ocean, near San Diego. The caudal fin is not a true tail but is a tail-like structure called a clavus that serves as a rudder. The dorsal (top) and anal (bottom) fins are used for propulsion.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 39407  

Ocean sunfish and photographer, open ocean.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03324  

Unidentified likely hydroid, filtering nutrients from passing ocean currents, oil rigs, southern California.
Image ID: 35078  

California Golden gorgonian polyps. The golden gorgonian is a colonial organism composed of thousands of tiny polyps. Each polyp secretes calcium which accumulates to form the structure of the colony. The fan-shaped gorgonian is oriented perpendicular to prevailing ocean currents to better enable to filter-feeding polyps to capture passing plankton and detritus passing by.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 37204  

Garibaldi and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, San Clemente Island. 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.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Giant kelp, Muricea californica, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38501  

Garibaldi and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, San Clemente Island. 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.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Giant kelp, Muricea californica, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38504  

Garibaldi and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, San Clemente Island. 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.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Giant kelp, Muricea californica, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38509