We encountered a blocky pinnacle region composed of heavy manganese-crusted basalt blocks with a high density of colonial cnidarians, stalked sponges, and their associated faunas. This area was composed of steep walls, several valleys, and strikingly acute features where current flow seemed accelerated. The community had several large and very tall precious coral Hemicorallium species, some overgrown by yellow zoanthids. Other cnidarians included the chrysogorgiid Chrysogorgia sp, a white species of Paragorgia, stoloniferans, corallimorpharians, and several zoanthids proliferating over a wide rocky surface. Also observed were bright white glass sponges.
Coral Community
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana.
We encountered a blocky pinnacle region composed of heavy manganese-crusted basalt blocks with a high density of colonial cnidarians, stalked sponges, and their associated faunas. This area was composed of steep walls, several valleys, and strikingly acute features where current flow seemed accelerated. The community had several large and very tall precious coral Hemicorallium species, some overgrown by yellow zoanthids. Other cnidarians included the chrysogorgiid Chrysogorgia sp, a white species of Paragorgia, stoloniferans, corallimorpharians, and several zoanthids proliferating over a wide rocky surface. Also observed were bright white glass sponges. Download larger version (jpg, 1.3 MB).
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