Sea Fans [Gorgonia]

Sea Fans
Description

Gorgonia sea fans rise like underwater banners, swaying gently with the flow. Divers commonly spot their flexible, branching structure covered in tiny polyps that help filter plankton from the water. In moderate currents, the fans look almost alive as they pulse and bend with each surge.

Species
Purple Sea Fan
Purple Sea Fan

Gorgonia ventalina

Common Sea Fan
Common Sea Fan

Gorgonia flabellum

Venus Sea Fan
Venus Sea Fan

Gorgonia mariae

Gorgonia clathrus

Gorgonia clathrus

Gorgonia flavescens

Gorgonia flavescens

Gorgonia reticulum

Gorgonia reticulum

Gorgonia venusta

Gorgonia venusta

Taxonomy
Phylum Cnidarians
Cnidaria
Class Octocorallians
Octocorallia
Order Soft Corals (Malacalcyonacea)
Malacalcyonacea
Family Sea Fans
Gorgoniidae
Statistics
  • Species 7