The sinuous sea fan (Eunicella tricoronata) is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Gorgoniidae.
| Sinuous sea fan | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Gorgoniidae |
| Genus: | Eunicella |
| Species: | E. tricoronata
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| Binomial name | |
| Eunicella tricoronata Velimirov, 1971[1]
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Description
editThis fan is flattened and has curving branches which all tend to grow in the same plane. It may be mustard yellow to orange and when feeding the extended polyps give the fan a fuzzy appearance. It may grow up to 1m tall and have branches of 0.7 to 1 cm wide.[2]
Distribution
editThis sea fan is found only around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to East London in 9–36 m of water. It is endemic to this region.[3]
Ecology
editThis fan usually grows in deeper water, sheltered from wave action. It is preyed upon by the whip fan nudibranch, Tritonia nilsodhneri, which strongly resembles the feeding fan.[3]
References
edit
- ^ "Eunicella tricoronata Velimirov". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
- ^ a b Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9
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