Brown Gorgonian and California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica

Brown gorgonian and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef below kelp forest, San Clemente 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 37056
Brown gorgonian and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef below kelp forest, San Clemente 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: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 37056
Format: Digital 3:2
Keywords: algae, animal, animalia, brown gorgonian, california, california golden gorgonian, channel islands, coral, creature, environment, 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, san clemente island, scene, scenery, scenic, sea, sea fan, soft coral, southern channel islands, submarine, underwater, usa, wildlife
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