Sea Fan

Description:

Gorgonians consist of individual tiny polyps that form colonies. Most species form colonies attached to a hard surface such as a coral reef or a rock, but some species will instead attach themselves to mud or sand. A gorgonian colony is supported by an internal central skeleton but the exact structure of a gorgonian colony varies a lot between the various species. Many species grow erect with a flat and branched growth pattern that makes them resemble fans, but there are many species that come in other shapes and you can for instance find encrusting gorgonians, bushy gorgonians and whip-shaped gorgonians.

Habitat:

British Virgin Islands, near Cooper's Island.