Ingo Arndt / Compilation of various corals including many Fan corals (Gorgonacea sp) from collection at Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt, Germany.

Jordi Chias / Spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) just hatched from egg case that is on Seafan (Paramuricea clavata), Ullastres seamount, Costa Brava, Llafranch, Catalunya, Spain

Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION / Pink sea fan / Warty coral (Eunicella verrucosa) with attached eggs of a Common squid (Loligo vulgaris), eggcase of a Lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), and Spiny starfish (Marthasterias...

Alex Mustard / A diver exploring a coral reef with formation of brown tube sponges (Agelas conifera) red rope sponges (Amphimedon compressa) and deepwater sea fans (Iciligorgia nodulifera) East End, Grand Cayman, Ca...

Roberto Rinaldi / Yellow fan coral / Seafan (Paramuricea clavata) amongst mass of invasive algae (Caulerpa taxifolia) with Rainbow wrasse fish (Coris julis), Strait of Messina, Southern Italy

Juergen Freund / Schooling Silverside fish (Antherinidae) split level with karst limestone walls, fan coral and featherstar, North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2002.

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan coral with Featherstar / crinoid attached, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan coral with crinoids / featherstars, Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Juergen Freund / Convict blennies / False catfish, juvenile, (Pholidichthys leucotaenia) amidst a fan coral. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia,

Juergen Freund / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in a fancoral. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in a fancoral. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Fan coral (Gorgonacea) with open polyps. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia..

Juergen Freund / Tunicates / Ascidians / Sea squirts (Atriolum robustum) on a fan coral branch. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in a fan coral. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) in its fan coral. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia,

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of Fan coral (Gorgonacea) in the shallows with boat shilouetted against the sunset in the background. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Colorful coral reef with soft corals (Alcyonacea) and fan corals (Gorgonacea). Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January

Sue Daly / Close up of polyps and tentacles of Sea fan (Gorgonia sp) Cebu, Philippines, March

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lundgren / Blanket stars (Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae) climbing Fan coral (Paramuricea placomus) to position themselves in water current, Trondheimsfjorden, Norway, February 2009

Jeff Rotman / Giant seafan coral and diver {Subergorgia mollis} on reef Palau Is, Micronesia Model released.

Sue Daly / Warty coral {Eunicella verrucosa} Sark, Channel Isles, UK

Jeff Rotman / Giant seafan coral close up {Subergorgia mollis} Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea.

Pascal Kobeh / Hard coral (Porites lutea) with Christmas-tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus), New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean.

Pascal Kobeh / Three Pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) on a Seafan / Gorgonian (Muricella sp) including one or several pregnant males. New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean

Pascal Kobeh / Four Pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) on a Seafan / Gorgonian (Muricella sp. ) including one or several pregnant males. New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Large reef scene on the current exposed face of a coral reef, with seafans (Melithaea sp.), soft corals (Dendronephthya spp.), sponges, coral grouper (Cephalopholis miniata), anthias, damselfish and m...

David Fleetham / Black spotted pufferfish (Arothron nigropunctatus) resting on Gorgonian coral fan (Gorgonia), Philippines.

Bert Willaert / Sea fan, soft corals and feather stars with Blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) swimming above. Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Linda Pitkin / Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) sheltering by gorgonian sea fan and other corals on coral reef Cape Kri, Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, March 2016

Alex Mustard / Seafans (Melithaea sp.) and soft corals (Sarcophyton sp.) make up a colourful coral reef scene. Vatu-i-Ra Passage, Ra Province, Viti Levu, Fiji. Bligh Waters, tropical Pacific Ocean

Georgette Douwma / Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonetti) with a Gorgonian sea fan (Melithaea sp.) and soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Georgette Douwma / Gorgonian sea fan (Melithaea sp.) with Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias sqamipinnis) Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Georgette Douwma / Gorgonian sea fans (Melithaea sp.) with a large school of Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonetti) Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Georgette Douwma / Gorgonian sea fan (Melithaea sp.) and Soft corals (Dendronephthya sp.) with a large school of Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonetti) Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Franco Banfi / Red fan corals (Paramuricea clavata), Yellow gorgonian, (Eunicella cavolini) and Yellow cave-sponges (Aplysina cavernicola), Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean.

Juergen Freund / Bright orange sponge and massive gorgonian (Alcyonacea) fan corals in the reef. Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Pascal Kobeh / Diver in a forest of Giant seafans (Subergorgia mollis) Mayotte. Indian Ocean. February 2010.

Pascal Kobeh / Diver in front of a cave with Giant seafans (Subergorgia mollis) Mayotte. Indian Ocean. February 2010.

Franco Banfi / Red sea fan (Paramuricea clavata) Stupiste Out dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Wall covered with Sponges (Verongia / Aplysina cavernicola) and Red gorgonia (Paramuricea clavata) Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) damaged from the high temperature of the water, covered with algae, Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) damaged from the high temperature of the water, Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Polyps of red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Catshark egg (Scyliorhinus sp) on Red sea fan (Paramuricea clavata) Stupiste In dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red sea fan (Paramuricea clavata) and Yellow cluster anemones (Parazoanthus axinellae) Wall of Bisevo, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Black coral (Gerardia savaglia) and Red sea fan (Paramuricea clavata) Wall of Bisevo, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) and Yellow cluster anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae) Punta Sant'Angelo dive-site, Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) and fish, Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) and Yellow cluster anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae) Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) Yellow gorgonian (Eunicella cavolini), Yellow sponges (Aplysina cavernicola) and Yellow cluster anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae) Punta Sant'Angelo dive-site, Ischia Is...

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver and Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) Yellow gorgonian (Eunicella cavolini) and Yellow Cluster Anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae), Punta Sant'Angelo dive-site, Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenia...

Franco Banfi / Red seafan (Paramuricea clavata) Yellow gorgonian (Eunicella cavolini) and Yellow Cluster Anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae) Punta Sant'Angelo dive-site, Ischia Island, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterran...

Franco Banfi / Tunicates (Clavelina sp) covering a seafan branches, Friwinbonda Point, Kri island, Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Gorgonian sea fan (Acalycigorgia sp.) Fiabajet delight, Fiabajet Island, Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver and gorgonian sea fan (Acalycigorgia sp.) Fiabajet delight, Fiabajet Island, Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Sea fan (Subergorgia mollis) close to the surface with Anchovy shoal (Engraulidae ) Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Gorgonian sea fan (Acalycigorgia sp.) Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Rich reef with sea fan (Melithaea) and soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) , Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Crinoids or feather star on a Sea fan (Subergorgia mollis), Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Sea fan (Subergorgia) sp. Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan corals, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan corals in Raja Ampat coral reef, near to mangroves, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan corals (Gorgonacea) split level with mangroves, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan corals (Gorgonacea) in Raja Ampat coral reef, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Crinoids (Crinodea) on fan corals (Gorgonacea) in Raja Ampat coral reef, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Allied cowrie (Ovulidae) on a gorgonian fan coral. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian (Gorganacea) fan corals,. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Crinoids on fan corals in Raja Ampat coral reef, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Sue Daly / Gorgonian fan (Gorgonacea sp.) and diver Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, January 2013. Model released

Sue Daly / Ship wreck with Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa). Wreck Forth, Herm, British Channel Islands, July.

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa). Grune du Nord, Sark, British Channel Islands, August.

Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION / Pink sea fan / Warty coral (Eunicella verrucosa), Lundy Island Marine Conservation Zone, Devon, England, UK, May.

Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION / Pink sea fan / Warty coral (Eunicella verrucosa) with attached eggs of a Common squid (Loligo vulgaris), eggcase of a Lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), and Spiny starfish (Marthasterias...

Alex Mustard / Red clingfish (Arcos rubiginosus) pair blend in with their host, a deepwater sea fan (Iciligorgia nodulifera) East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.

David Shale / Soft coral (Acanthogorgia sp) from coral seamount, SW Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean, December 2011

David Shale / Squat lobster (Galatheidae) on black fan coral, from coral seamount, SW Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean, December 2011

Alex Mustard / Red clingfish (Arcos rubiginosus) living on a deepwater sea fan (Iciligorgia nodulifera) on the reef wall, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.

Roberto Rinaldi / Yellow fan coral / Seafan (Paramuricea clavata) amongst invasive algae (Caulerpa taxifolia), Strait of Messina, Southern Italy

Roberto Rinaldi / Yellow fan coral / Seafan (Paramuricea clavata) amongst mass of invasive algae (Caulerpa taxifolia), Strait of Messina, Southern Italy

Roberto Rinaldi / Diver viewing Yellow fan coral / Seafan (Paramuricea clavata) amongst mass of invasive algae (Caulerpa taxifolia), Strait of Messina, Southern Italy

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa). Channel Islands, UK, June.

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa) and female Cuckoo Wrasse. Channel Islands, UK, July.

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa). Channel Islands, UK, June.

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan (Eunicella verrucosa). Channel Islands, UK, July.

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa). Channel Islands, UK, June.

Sue Daly / Pink Sea Fan / Warty Coral (Eunicella verrucosa). Channel Islands, UK, July.

Pete Oxford / Venus Sea Fan (Gorgonia flabellum). Puenta Gruesa, Mahahual Penninsula, South Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Juergen Freund / Brittlestar (Ophiothrix purpurea) on gorgonian fan coral, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Bright orange sponge and massive gorgonian fan corals in the reef, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan and black tree coral (Tubastrea micrantha) on coral reef, Moluccas Islands, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan coral with diver, Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Detail of a Gorgonian fan coral, Papua New Guinea.