Garibaldi and California golden gorgonians on rocky reef, Hypsypops rubicundus, San Clemente Island

Garibaldi and California golden gorgonians 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. San Clemente Island, USA

Species: California golden gorgonian, Hypsypops rubicundus, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23521
Format: Digital 2:3

Keywords: animal, animalia, california, california golden gorgonian, channel islands, coral, creature, damselfish, environment, fish, garibaldi, gorgonian, hypsypops rubicundus, invertebrate, marine, marine fish, marine invertebrate, muricea californica, nature, ocean, oceans, offshore, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, san clemente island, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, teleost fish, underwater, usa, wildlife

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Categories:

Animal > Fish > Marine Fish > Damselfish (Pomacentridae) > Garibaldi
Animal > Marine Invertebrate > Coral > Soft Coral > Gorgonian
Location > Oceans > Pacific > California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico) > Channel Islands > San Clemente Island
Location > USA > California > San Clemente Island
Subject > Technique > Underwater

This professional quality stock photo can be licensed in high resolution form by contacting the photographer: Phillip Colla, photos@oceanlight.com, (760) 707-7153, more info and photographer bio.