Brown gorgonians on rocky reef, Muricea fruticosa, #25398

Brown gorgonians 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. San Clemente Island, California, USA, Muricea fruticosa, natural history stock photograph, photo id 25398
Brown gorgonians 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. San Clemente Island, California, USA

This image is featured in: Sea Fans and Gorgonians at San Clemente Island

Species: Brown gorgonian, Muricea fruticosa
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25398
Format: Digital 2:3
Keywords: animal, animalia, brown gorgonian, california, channel islands, coral, creature, environment, gorgonian, invertebrate, marine, marine invertebrate, muricea fruticosa, nature, ocean, oceans, offshore, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, san clemente island, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, underwater, usa, wildlife
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