Where are gorgonia found?
The purple sea fan is found in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, with a range extending from Bermuda and Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to Curaçao. It grows near the shore in shallow water in areas with strong wave action and on deeper outer reefs with strong currents down to a depth of about 15 m (49 ft).
Is gorgonian coral endangered?
Not extinct
Alcyonacea/Extinction status
Are gorgonians plants?
These are not actually plants, but animals called gorgonians. Gorgonians come in many forms – they can be bushy and feather-like, branching and fan-like, or simple and whip-like. Regardless of their shape, all can be found in beautiful shades of purple, yellow, and green.
What do gorgonians eat?
What Do Gorgonian Corals Eat? In the wild, Gorgonian corals eat a wide variety of marine organic matter, as they inhabit a wide variety of environments. Generally they will eat micro-plankton, small brine shrimp, fish detritus, rotifers, and copepods. Some species also get nutrients from zooxanthellae algae.
What is the common name of Gorgonia?
Data Quality Indicators:
| Order | Alcyonacea Lamouroux, 1816 – soft corals, soft corals |
| Suborder | Holaxonia Studer, 1887 |
| Family | Gorgoniidae Lamouroux, 1812 |
| Genus | Gorgonia Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Species | Gorgonia ventalina Linnaeus, 1758 – common sea fan, common sea fan |
Why Gorgonia is called sea fan?
The spicules are small and fusiform. The polyps of the G. ventalina protrude from the spicules as tiny fragile white flowers. It is these individual polyps that form the sea fan.
How do Gorgonians reproduce?
They do this both sexually and asexually. The eggs and sperm are mass-released (spawned) by the polyps into the water, where they fuse to become gametes. This polyp, through asexual reproduction, can begin budding, and soon enough, a new gorgonian coral colony will establish and grow.
How fast do sea fans grow?
They seem to be very healthy with polyp extension and good color but they have only grown 1/8 of an inch in 6 months. Other reef keepers have had the same experience. In the wild, these sea fans grow very fast. However, in captivity they grow very slowly.
Is sea whip a algae?
Sea Whip is also called Gorgonian Coral (Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae), a marine plant found in very salty water. They are marine plants or animals such as seaweeds or algae living in forbidding pockets of the ocean.
What are sea fans predators?
Sea fan predators can include a tiny snail (Neosimnia barbarensis) that eats their flesh and lays its eggs on their branches.
Do gorgonians like flow?
Photosynthetic gorgonians love light, so be sure to place them in an area of your tank where they will be under moderate to high lighting for several hours a day. Many stores do not keep gorgonians in good light or flow so they tend to be unhealthy.
Do gorgonians eat phytoplankton?
Gorgonians use their fine tentacles and stocky mucus to capture phytoplankton. Some, such as Diodogorgia, must capture all of their food for a living. While most if not all gorgonians rely upon phytoplankton and tiny zooplankton for their food, a few are additionally capable of harboring zooxanthellae.
Why are gorgonians important to the coral reef?
Of all the amazing corals that are available to the reef aquarium hobbyists nowadays, gorgonians are frequently overlooked when choosing corals for our aquariums. In the wild they are a vital part of the environment; they filter water, provide sanctuary for fish, crinoids, and many other creatures.
Where can I find photosynthetic gorgonians in my Aquarium?
Most all of the photosynthetic gorgonians available to the hobby come from very shallow areas of the Caribbean seas. Their natural habitat has strong tidal currents and ample sunlight – therefore providing them with the same conditions in your own aquarium is a must.
Can a coral Sting a photosynthetic gorgonian?
Gorgonians can be damaged if they are leaning up against a glass wall or other hard surface that is impeding flow to their tissue. Even though photosynthetic gorgonians are fairly easy to keep, corals can sting and damage their tissue, so it’s best to keep them at a distance to prevent touching.
What’s the name of the purple blade gorgonian?
Pterogorgia gorgonians, referred to as purple blade gorgonians, are unique looking with fuzzy brown polyps and deep purple, angular branches. This species occurs in very shallow tidal lagoons in the wild so it is best kept under strong lighting and fairly high flow. Pterogorgia, Purple Blade gorgonian.