NOAA Fisheries Image Gallery

Alaska Gorgonian

Picture by: Unknown Picture taken on: April 3rd, 2011

Tags: coral habitat deep

A gorgonian, also known as sea whip or sea fan, is an order of sessile colonial cnidarian found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. A colony can be several feet high and across but only a few inches thick. They may be brightly colored, often purple, red, or yellow (pictured). Gorgonians are mainly found in shallow water, but can be found thousands of feet below the surface.