The sea fan Callogorgia gracilis with the brittle star Asteroschema sp. in its typical outstretched form clinging to the coral branches. The coral is also colonized by a type of anemone (shown on the right side of the image) that grows on the dead branches of many species of deep water corals, and is a common natural occurrence. This coral and associated species were observed during leg 1 of the cruise at approximately 300 meters depth in the Green Canyon area, over 300 km from the Deepwater Horizon site.
 Fan/Star
Image courtesy of Lophelia II 2010, NOAA OER and BOEMRE. Download image (jpg, 156 KB).

Sea fan Callogorgia gracilis with brittle star Asteroschema sp. in its typical outstretched form clinging to the coral branches.