Brown Gorgonian and California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica

Brown gorgonian and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef below kelp forest, Catalina Island. Gorgonians are 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. USA, Muricea californica, Muricea fruticosa, natural history stock photograph, photo id 37292
Brown gorgonian and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef below kelp forest, Catalina Island. Gorgonians are 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. USA

Species: Brown gorgonian, California golden gorgonian, Muricea californica, Muricea fruticosa
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37292
Format: Digital 1:1
Keywords: algae, animal, animalia, brown gorgonian, california, california golden gorgonian, catalina, catalina head, catalina island, channel islands, circular fisheye, coral, creature, environment, fisheye, gorgonian, habitat, invertebrate, island, kelp forest, marine, marine invertebrate, marine plant, muricea californica, muricea fruticosa, nature, ocean, oceans, offshore, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, plant, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, underwater, usa, wildlife
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