divepix - Common Sea Fan

Common Sea Fan

Aspect:	A delicate thin, single-plane lattice that spreads from several main branches. Very similar in shape and colour (generally tan or light green, often with pink/purple root and main branches) to other sea fans.
Population:	Common.
Notable feature:	The only visual way of distiguishing the Common Sea Fan from the similar Venus Sea Fan (q.v.) is to take a close-up view of its structure: if the thin branches that constitute the latice (and which homes the coral polyps) are relatively flat on either side of the main plane it is a Common Sea Fan. On the Venus Sea Fan they are clearly rounded.
Environment:	From shallow waters all the way down to 30 metres, but rare specimens have been seen as deep as 50 metres. Often oriented against the current for better water sifting action.
Behaviour:	Easily break under careless diver fin action, reason why shallow water specimens are often damaged.