Cave Fan Coral
Melithaea
Also known as: Fan Coral, Gorgonian Fan Coral, Gorgonian Sea Fan, Octocoral, Gorgonian Sea Fas
- Fan Coral
- Gorgonian Fan Coral
- Gorgonian Sea Fan
- Octocoral
- Gorgonian Sea Fas
Overview
Found in areas of slow current, as well as very turbid areas, often branching out from vertical walls and hanging from cave ceilings, over coral and rocky reefs.The bigger fan corals often have a corkscrew effect on the main stems.
Most soft corals have no true skeleton and so their bodies are flexible.
Some soft corals have spikes very similar to rose thorns which may help to protect against predators.
Soft corals are food and shelter to many marine animals, some of which hide in the branches and take on the colouration of these corals.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 3
Found in areas of slow current, as well as very turbid areas, often branching out from vertical walls and hanging from cave ceilings, over coral and rocky reefs.The bigger fan corals often have a corkscrew effect on the main stems.
Adult photos 3
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumCnidaria
- classOctocorallia
- orderMalacalcyonacea
- familyMelithaeidae
- genusMelithaea Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857
SourcesWoRMS
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