divepix - Deepwater Sea Fan

Deepwater Sea Fan

Aspect:	Large single-plane fan with random dichotomous branches which, given the depth at which they develop look black due to the disappearance of the red portion of the light spectrum, but surprisingly switch to bright red in the beam of a torch, revealing its true colour.
Population:	Common at depths of over 30 metres.
Notable feature:	Bare "polished wood-like" branches dramatically change into heavily overladen structures when polyps and their eight tentacles are extended (this indeed makes it an octocoral).
Environment:	Very often grow on the sides current-exposed rock walls
Behaviour:	Polyps extend during daytime when current exists.

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