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Sea Fan
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[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A Sea Fan photographed in about 80 feet of water of the coast of Bimini in the Bahamas.
The main structural skeleton of a sea fan colony is formed from a flexible, horny substance called gorgonin, with living polyps covering the surface. Unlike corals, sea fans do not attach themselves to a hard substrate: instead, they anchor themselves in mud or sand. Each sea fan polyp has eight tentacles which catch plankton that is consumed. The "fan" is often oriented across the prevailing current to maximise water throughput and hence food supply. They may also contain algae which photosynthesize.
Sea fans are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, alongside the orders Alcyonacea (soft corals) and Pennatulacea (sea pens).
The Pygmy seahorse makes the sea fan its home.
Sprung & Delbeek (1997), The Reef Aquarium, p. 31-32 |
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Amazing shot, Kevin! Was it made 80 feet below the water? Bravo! The colors are so bright down there!
Dear Kevin,
A stunning photo of the beautiful Sea fan. To be honest I have no clue why only one member wrote a critique before me.
I wonder if not many members do go under water thus do not appreciate the beautiful details in your photo...!?
You must have very good equipment/spotlights to be able to show the luminous colours of the undersea world.
I add your work to my theme "under and above the seas"
Thanks for sharing.
Warm greetings from the Tzaneen Dam in Limpopo, South Africa
Ingrid