This page contains video and images of coral. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information.

Vertebrates: Fish / Skates and Eels / Sharks

Invertebrates: Sponges / Jellyfish, sea anemones / Corals / Sea stars, brittle stars, and sea urchins / Molluscs / Crabs and shrimp

Seafloor: Geologic features / Habitat / Bacterial Mats / Hydrates

camera icon Videos (QuickTime required.)

View the slideshow of some of the first images taken on Kelvin seamount. View the slideshow of some of the first images taken on Manning seamount. View the second slideshow of images taken on the Manning seamount. Collecting larval recruitment blocks from Manning seamount at about 1300 meters depth.

slideshow icon May 19
View the slide show of some of the first images taken on Kelvin seamount.

slideshow icon May 16
View the slide show of some of the first images taken on Manning Seamount.

slideshow icon May 16
View the second slide show of images taken on the Manning Seamount.

slideshow icon May 14
Collecting larval recruitment blocks from Manning Seamount at about 1300 m depth.
The "Aquarium" site at East Diamante volcano. Watch Chrysogorgia coral being collected by the IFE ROV Hercules on Bear seamount. View a slide show of live Isidella trichotoma bamboo coral found of the Giacomini Seamount. View a slide show of Paragorgia sp. bubblegum coral collected from the Welker Seamount.

slideshow icon May 11
The "Aquarium" site at East Diamante volcano.

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Watch Chrysogorgia coral being collected by the IFE ROV Hercules on Bear Seamount. (QuickTime, 695 Kb)

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View a slide show of live bamboo coral, Isidella trichotoma, found at Giacomini Seamount.

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View a slide show of bubblegum coral, Paragorgia sp., collected from Welker Seamount.
The Siphonogorgia sp. coral from the family Nidaliidae, was discovered on Pratt Seamount. See DSV Alvin peek around a Primnoid coral to see a large aggregation of brittle stars. View a slide show of some of the deep-sea corals of the Alaska Seamounts. Coral and other biological samples are taken into the cold room for processing.

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Siphonogorgia sp. coral (family Nidaliidae) was discovered on Pratt Seamount. (Quicktime,988 Kb.)

camera icon August 17
See DSV Alvin peek around a Primnoid coral to see a large aggregation of brittle stars. (QuickTime, 1 Mb)

camera icon August 16
View a slide show of some of the deep-sea corals of the Alaska Seamounts.

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Coral and other biological samples are taken into the cold room for processing. (QuickTime, 1.2 Mb)
Deep sea corals are not the only habitat formers on the seamounts. Deep sea corals are often considered the condominiums of the deep. An Antipatharian or black coral, in 1400 meters of water on Denson Seamount. A narrated compilation of still photographs.

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Deep-sea corals are not the only habitat formers on the seamounts. (QuickTime, 1.6 Mb)

camera icon August 12
Deep-sea corals are often considered the "condominiums of the deep." (QuickTime, 1.3 Mb)

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An Antipatharian, or black coral, in 1,400 m of water on Denson Seamount. (QuickTime, 1.2 Mb)

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A narrated compilation of still photographs. (QuickTime, 600 Kb)
New discovery's on the New England Seamount chain. Coral polyp pattern video corals video Various sponges and octocorals collected during the Deep Sea Medicines 2003 Expedition.

camera icon New discovery's on the New England Seamount chain.

camera icon Coral polyp patterns.

camera icon Corals on Manning Seamount.

slideshow icon Various sponges and octocorals collected during the "Deep Sea Medicines 2003 Expedition."
Cold water coral coral bioluminescence movie lophelia banks video Oculina coral habitat

camera icon Cold water coral.

camera icon A deep sea coral bioluminescing as it is agitated by the manipulator arm of the JSL II (QuickTime, 656 kb)

camera icon The beautiful and complex habitat of the Lophelia coral banks. (QuickTime, 536 kb)

camera icon Oculina coral habitat (QuickTime, 4.2 MB)
Alvin collecting a suction sample

camera icon Alvin collecting a soft coral sample (QuickTime, 652 K)
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Images

Corals and Octocorals (Phylum Cnidaria)
Large Paragorgia colonies on basalt substrate. Cross sectional view of polyps and eggs in Paragorgia sp. colony. Egg from Acanella sp. Paragorgia forest site as seen from the Hercules ROV.

Summary
Large Paragorgia colonies on basalt substrate. (HR)

Summary
Cross sectional view of polyps and eggs in Paragorgia sp. colony. (HR)

Summary
Egg from Acanella sp. (HR)

Summary
Paragorgia forest site as seen from the Hercules ROV. (HR)
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Various species of corals and sponges on Retriever Seamount. Black coral on Retriever Seamount. Lovely spiraling Iridigorgia coral with brightly colored (apparent) commensal shrimp. A single coral before color balancing.

May 23
Various species of corals and sponges on Retriever Seamount. (HR)

May 23
Black coral on Retriever Seamount. (HR)

May 21
Lovely spiraling Iridigorgia coral with brightly colored (apparent) commensal shrimp. (HR)

May 21
A single coral before color balancing.
A single coral after color balancing. A specimen of Iridigorgia collected at Kelvin seamount. A specimen of long bamboo coral collected at Kelvin seamount. Black coral colony.

May 21
A single coral after color balancing.

May 19
A specimen of Iridigorgia collected at Kelvin Seamount. (HR)

May 19
A specimen of long bamboo coral collected at Kelvin Seamount.

May 17
Black coral colony.
Black coral polyps with 6 tentacles. The thorny skeleton of a black coral. Black whip-like coral Stichopathes. Isidella coral specimen. 

May 17
Black coral polyps with six tentacles.

May 17
The thorny skeleton of a black coral.

May 16
Black whip-like coral, Stichopathes. (HR)

May 16
Isidella coral specimen.
Crinoid covered bamboo coral, appearing to have retracted polyps. Gorgonians from a shallow reef system in Bonaire. A bushy black coral as found in its natural environment. Pink Paragorgia collected from one of the Manning Seamounts.

May 16
Crinoid-covered bamboo coral, appearing to have retracted polyps.

May 16
Gorgonians in a shallow reef system in Bonaire. (HR)

May 16
A bushy black coral as found in its natural environment. (HR)

May 15
Pink Paragorgia collected from one of the Manning Seamounts. (HR)
Red Paragorgia coral. Microscopic image of digestive mesenteries sticking out of the mouth of a coral polyp. Lovely Lepidisis (whip coral) on Bear Seamount. Keratoisis bamboo coral skeleton.

May 15
Red Paragorgia coral. (HR)

May 15
Microscopic image of digestive mesenteries sticking out of the mouth of a coral polyp. (HR)

May 12
Lovely Lepidisis (whip coral) on Bear Seamount.

May 12
Keratoisis bamboo coral skeleton.
A bubblegum coral is occupied by a number of basket stars (Asteronyx sp.) We found a number of coral species in the family Paragorgiidae. These coral are often referred to as Bubblegum corals. Bamboo corals were among the dominant groups. They are in the Family Isididae. Antipatharians corals are often referred to as “black corals” for their dark black skeletons.

Summary
A bubblegum coral is occupied by a number of basket stars (Asteronyx sp.)

Summary
A number of coral species in the Paragorgiidae family (Bubblegum corals) were discovered.

Summary
Bamboo corals were among the dominant groups. They are in the Isididae family.

Summary
Antipatharians corals are often referred to as “black corals” for their dark black skeletons.
Primnoids are a very diverse group of corals that range from highly branched forms. The delicate coral in this image is in the Family Chrysogorgiidae. A live bamboo coral in 800 meters of water on Pratt Seamount. Too big to fit in any of the sample boxes this sample would have to be brought to the surface locked in the Alvin’s mechanical arm.

Summary
Primnoids are a very diverse group of corals that range from highly branched forms.

Summary
The delicate coral in this image is in the Chrysogorgiidae family.

Summary
A live bamboo coral in 800 meters of water on Pratt Seamount.

August 19
Too big to fit in any of the sample boxes, this sample was brought to the surface locked in the Alvin’s mechanical arm.
A zoomed-in view of Paragorgia with polyps extended. The collected Paragorgia, ready for sample processing. A collection of tubes and jars from the processed Paragorgia colony. Bamboo coral specimen with mucus clearly visible.

August 16
A zoomed-in view of Paragorgia, with polyps extended. (HR)

August 16
The collected Paragorgia, ready for sample processing. (HR)

August 16
A collection of tubes and jars from the processed Paragorgia colony. (HR)

August 10
Bamboo coral specimen with mucus clearly visible. (HR)
a tall deep-water gorgonian coral A coral and sponge garden Closed Paragorgia polyps A Paragorgia colony

A tall deep-water gorgonian coral. (HR)

A coral and sponge garden

Closed Paragorgia polyps.

A Paragorgia colony.
Octocoral polyps and a red brittle star, Asteronyx A Paragorgia coral on Manning Seamount with a yellow colonial anemone. purple octocoral open coral polyp

Octocoral polyps and a red brittle star, Asteronyx.

A Paragorgia coral with a yellow colonial anemone.

Purple octocoral.

Open coral polyp.
open coral polyps Coral polyp septa Orange siphonophore Microscopic coral eggs

Open coral polyps.

A single coral polyp.

Coral polyp septa.

Microscopic coral eggs.
Deep sea paragorgia coral Iridogorgia coral specimen Corallium sp. specimen Relaxing coral polyps

Deep sea paragorgia coral.

Iridogorgia coral specimen.

Corallium sp. specimen. (HR)

Relaxing coral polyps.
Paragorgia sp. and pin-shaped clear sclerites Lepidisis sp photographed through a microscope Paragorgia coral with an unknown zoanthid colony Unique species of deep sea corals collected from Oceanographer Canyon. Bathypathes sp, a type of black coral undewater.

Paragorgia sp. and pin-shaped clear sclerites Lepidisis sp photographed through a microscope.

Paragorgia coral with an unknown zoanthid colony.

Deep sea corals collected from Oceanographer Canyon.

Bathypathes sp, a type of black coral undewater.
Various black corals in a bucket. A close-up of Iridogorgia coral polyps Iridogorgia, a spiral shaped coral Soft coral provides a number of hiding places for benthic invertebrates.

Various black corals in a bucket. (HR)

A close-up of Iridogorgia coral polyps.

Iridogorgia, a spiral shaped coral.

Soft coral provides a number of hiding places for benthic invertebrates.
This specimen is the largest colonial coral collected to date. A close-up of some of the individual polyps that comprise a colonial coral. example of the abundant coral growth that can be found in some areas with exposed hardbottom Tree-shaped coral are one of the most common type of coral seen on the exposed rock to date

This specimen is the largest colonial coral collected to date.

A close-up of some of the individual polyps that comprise a colonial coral.

Abundant coral growth can be found in some areas with exposed hard bottom.

Tree-shaped coral are one of the most common types of coral seen on the exposed rock.
Soft coral which was found at a depth of more than 1400 feet. Bush of deep water coral Lophelia pertusa Black coral bush A Gorgonia Swiftia sp.

Soft coral which was found at a depth of more than 1400 feet.

Bush of deep water coral Lophelia pertusa.

Black coral bush.

A Gorgonia Swiftia sp.
Often found solitary Cup corals do not form reefs like shallow water corals Lophelia pertusa in a field of anemones and sponges A Bamboo coral (Acanella sp.) Skate egg cases attached to a field of Primnoid corals

Often found solitary Cup corals do not form reefs like shallow corals. (HR)

Lophelia pertusa in a field of anemones and sponges. (HR)

A Bamboo coral (Acanella sp.).

Skate egg cases attached to a field of Primnoid corals.
A red gorgonian (1x) A red gorgonian (10x) Callogorgia coral along with a solitary cup coral A large Madrepora coral along with Primnoa coral seen in the pictures lower left corner

A red gorgonian (1x).

A red gorgonian (10x).

Callogorgia coral along with a solitary cup coral.

A large Madrepora coral along with Primnoa coral seen in the pictures lower left corner.
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Foureye butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus) in a colony of Acropora cervicornis (stag horn coral) Sampling deep sea coral from a colony in the Gulf of Mexico at 1178 feet The dense coral habitat of the 3-toothed squat lobster at Green Canyon Lophelia pertusa bushes with several painted squat lobsters in the background and a golden crinoid in the foreground

Foureye butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus) a colony of (stag horn coral).

Sampling deep sea coral from a colony in the Gulf of Mexico at 1178 feet.

The dense coral habitat of the 3-toothed squat lobster at Green Canyon. (HR)

Lophelia pertusa bushes with several painted squat lobsters and a golden crinoid.
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A large number of basket stars were found entwined within this octocoral The single colony of bright-white Lophelia pertusa coral along with a variety of anemones Deep sea black corals. Isidid from 1300 meters at Murray Seamount

A large number of basket stars were found entwined within this octocoral. (HR)

The single colony of bright-white Lophelia pertusa coral along with a variety of anemones. (HR)

Deep sea black corals.

Isidid from 1300 meters at Murray Seamount.
Isidid from 700 meters at Warwick Seamount Isidid from Warwick Seamount Coral polyps on a bamboo coral. Paragorgia coral

Isidid from 700 meters at Warwick Seamount.

Isidid from Warwick Seamount.

Coral polyps on a bamboo coral.

Paragorgia coral.
Paragorgia with squat lobsters Bamboo coral Octocorals at the top of a vent chimney. A bamboo coral skeleton

Paragorgia with squat lobsters.

Bamboo coral.

Octocorals at the top of a vent chimney. (HR)

A bamboo coral skeleton (Ceratoisis flexibilis) with living tissue removed.
A bamboo coral deepwater coral. Bamboo coral; Coral, pencil urchin, and sea star.

A bamboo coral (Ceratoisis flexibilis) with living polyps.

Lophelia sp. deepwater coral.

Bamboo coral; note black banding.

Coral, pencil urchin, and sea star.
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A healthy branch of Lophelia coral A beautiful pale orange coral Purple coral growing over gold coral.

A healthy branch of Lophelia coral sampled from the deep ocean reefs.

A beautiful pale orange coral collected at the Lophelia coral banks.

Purple coral growing over gold coral.
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A vertical wall of gold coral A toadstool soft coral. Coral, bryozoa, and mollusk shell fragments Bryozoa and coral

A vertical wall of gold coral.

A toadstool soft coral.

Coral, bryozoa, and shell fragments

Bryozoa and coral
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Paramuricea coral and brittle star Lophelia coral Octocoral Coral, bryozoa, and mollusk shell remnants

Paramuricea coral and brittle star

Lophelia coral

Octocoral

Coral, bryozoa, and shell fragments
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deep-sea octocoral Antipatharian coral Coralscape Oculina coral

Octocoral

Antipatharian coral

Coralscape

Oculina coral
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Dead Oculina coral Stages of decay in Oculina coral Deep sea corals (Paramurecia)

Dead Oculina coral

Stages of decay in Oculina coral

Sponges and corals

Deep sea corals (Paramurecia)
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Deep sea corals (Paraorgia) Close-up of Oculina coral Oculina coral at Jeff's Reef Ivory tree coral from Sebastian Reef

Deep sea corals (Paraorgia)

Close-up of Oculina coral

Oculina coral

Ivory tree coral f
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Oculina coral Blue angelfish Octocoral Primnoa resedaeformis

Head of Oculina coaral

Oculina coral

Blue angelfish and coral

Octocoral, Primnoa resedaeformis
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Oculina varicosa coral head Ivory Tree coral, oculina varicosa 3 different types gorgonian corals

Lophelia coral

Oculina varicosa coral head

Ivory Tree coral, oculina varicosa

Three types of gorgonian corals



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