Large coral fans, like this Nicella sp., create habitat for other deep-sea animals, like the brittle star observed during a the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition dive. By getting up off the bottom, the brittle star can capture small food items floating by in the current.
Coral Fan and Brittle Star
Image courtesy of Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022.
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Large coral fans, like this Nicella sp., create habitat for other deep-sea animals, like the brittle star observed during a the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition dive. By getting up off the bottom, the brittle star can capture small food items floating by in the current.