Description
Gorgonia, or sea fans, are a genus of soft corals found in marine environments, particularly in areas with strong water currents. They are characterized by their fan-like shape and often have a purple hue, though other colors like brown or yellow can also occur. Sea fans are colonial invertebrates, meaning they are made up of many individual polyps, which are small, fragile, white "flower-like" structures.
Key Features:
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Colonial Nature:
Gorgonians are colonies of polyps, which are attached to a central axis composed of gorgonin and calcite.
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Fan-like Structure:
The polyps are arranged in a fan-like pattern, creating the distinctive shape of sea fans.
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Color Variation:
While often purple, sea fans can also be brown, yellow, or even pink, depending on environmental factors and the presence of pigments in their spicules (needle-like parts of calcium carbonate).
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Filter Feeders:
Sea fans are filter feeders, meaning they capture small particles of food from the water current using their tentacles.
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Geographic Distribution:
Common sea fans (Gorgonia ventalina) are found in the Caribbean Sea and tropical western Atlantic, including areas like the Florida Keys, Cuba, Belize, and Venezuela
