Cnidarian Gallery

Coral reef and beach - over and under water shot of a coral reef and white, sandy beach

SAS-973
Coral reef and beach - over and under water shot of a coral reef and white, sandy beach
Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, Australia
Steffen & Alexandra Sailer
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

© Steffen & Alexandra Sailer/ardea.com

Australasia, Australasian, Australia, Australian, Beach, Beaches, Cnidarian, Cnidarians, Coastal, Coral, Corals, Countries, Country, Landscape, Landscapes, Ocean, Oceania, Reef, Reefs, Scen Ic, Sea, Sea Scape, Seascapes, Shore, Split Level, Water, Wild Life

Sea fan, X-ray

Sea fan coral. Coloured X-ray of a sea fan, or gorgonian. Sea fans are coral-like organisms that live in a large colony. Each organism, or polyp, secretes a hard mineral around itself for protection and support. The secretions of the entire colony form the rocky skeleton seen here. Sea fan polyps feed by sifting minute plankton particles from the water. Sea fans are flat, and are orientated to present the maximum surface area to the prevailing current

© D. ROBERTS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Swarthy Parrotfish - about to bite into a coral polyp. The fish does not devour the coral but the algae that lives in and on the static animal

VT-8716
Swarthy Parrotfish - about to bite into a coral polyp. The fish does not devour the coral but the algae that lives in and on the static animal.
Heron Island. Great Barrier Reef. Australia.
Scarus niger
Valerie & Ron Taylor
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

© Ron and Valerie Tayor/ardea.com