Common sea fan off Key Largo coast, Florida, USA

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Common sea fan (scientific name: Gorgonia ventalina), off Key Largo coast, Atlantic Ocean, Florida Keys, USA, United States. Gorgonia ventalina is a unique coral that grows in the shape of a fan and has a distinctive purple coloring, which is where it gained the common name “purple sea fan”. G. ventalina can be found in many environments and varying depths throughout the Caribbean and Bermuda reefs. With their surface sclerites and chemical compounds they are able to defend off predators and diseases.

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Size: 5700px × 3816px
Location: Key Largo, Florida Keys, United States, USA
Photo credit: © Amar and Isabelle Guillen - Guillen Photo LLC / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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