Juvenile Sheephead and California golden gorgonian, Semicossyphus pulcher

California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead wrasse 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., Semicossyphus pulcher, Muricea californica, natural history stock photograph, photo id 30924
California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead wrasse 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 Sheephead Wrasse, California Golden Gorgonian, Semicossyphus pulcher, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 30924
Lat/Long: 32.81516, -118.35894 (Coordinates: 32° 48' 54.57" N, 118° 21' 32.17" W)
Format: Digital 3:2
Keywords: algae, animal, animalia, california, california golden gorgonian, channel islands, coral, creature, environment, fish, gorgonian, habitat, 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
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