Gorgonian and sheephead on rocky reef, Muricea californica, #23421

California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead 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., Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher, Macrocystis pyrifera, natural history stock photograph, photo id 23421
California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead 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.

Species: California Golden Gorgonian, Giant Kelp, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23421
Lat/Long: 32.81739, -118.35018 (Coordinates: 32° 49' 2.60" N, 118° 21' 0.65" W)
Format: Digital 3:2
Keywords: algae, animal, animalia, california, california golden gorgonian, california sheephead, california sheephead wrasse, channel islands, coral, creature, environment, fish, fish anatomy, forest, giant kelp, gorgonian, habitat, invertebrate, kelp, kelp forest, macrocystis, macrocystis pyrifera, male - female difference, marine, marine algae, marine fish, 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, seaweed, semicossyphus pulcher, sheep-head wrasse, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, teleost fish, underwater, usa, wildlife, wrasse
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