Shane Gross / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) holding on to a branch of a sea fan coral. Malapascua, Philippines.

David Fleetham / Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) wrapped around Eye fan coral (Cnidaria sp). Philippines.

David Fleetham / Necklace sea star (Fromia monilis) on gorgonian coral, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Pair of squat lobsters (Galathea sp) on Gorgonian coral, Komodo, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Gorgonian fan coral (Gorgonaceae) in the shallow mangroves, split level. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Second Place in the Portfolio Award of the Terre Sauvage Nature Images Awards Competit...

Alex Mustard / Close up of tiny (10mm) Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) living disguised in Muricella sp. sea fan. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

Jeff Rotman / Gorgonian Seafan Coral (Gorgonacea) polyps open to feed at night. South China Sea, Sipadan Island, Borneo.

Georgette Douwma / Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria) on coral reef with soft corals (Scleronephthya sp), gorgonian and Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis). Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Brittlestar on gorgonian fan coral, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Featherstars / crinoids attached to Gorgonian coral, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

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 / Whip coral (Gorgonaceae) Komodo NP, Indonesia

David Shale / Deepsea Gorgonian coral (Metallogorgia sp.) from mid atlantic ridge

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with Gorgonian and shoal of Pygmy / Glassy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri) Egypt, Red Sea

Fred Bavendam / Crescent-tail Bigeye (Priacanthus hamrur) in front of a sea fan, Uepi Island, Solomon Islands

Wild Wonders of Europe / Pitkin / Gorgonian coral (Paramuricea clavata) on rock face covered with Yellow encrusting anemones (Parazoanthus axinellae) sponges and corals, 'Horsehead', Lavezzi Islands, Corsica, France, September 2008

Georgette Douwma / Longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) resting in Gorgonian coral. Red Sea, Egypt.

Georgette Douwma / Longose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) resting on Gorgonian coral. Red Sea, Egypt.

Chris Newbert / Underwater reef scene with Sea Whips, Gorgonian Whip Coral, blossoming Soft Corals, Guard Plate Coral, and schools of Pseudanthias, Red Sea, Egypt

Chris Newbert / Fan Coral (Melithaea sp) group and Feather Star (Oxycomanthus bennetti), Solomon Islands

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) outcroppings, Sea Fan (Subergorgia sp) and Glassfish (Parapriacanthus ransonneti)

Chris Newbert / Feather Star (Colobometra perspinosa) on Sea Fan (Melithaea sp) and Leather Coral (Sarcophyton sp) 70 Feet Deep, Solomon Islands

Norbert Wu / Flamingo Tongue Snail (Cyphoma gibbosum) feeding on Common Sea Fan (Gorgonia ventalina) showing deep purple tone where the Sea Fan has released protective compounds, Saba, Caribbean

Fred Bavendam / Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) clinging to a Gorgonian Coral Fan, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Fred Bavendam / Cowry living on Sea Fan (Solenocaulon sp), Bali, Indonesia

Fred Bavendam / Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) clinging to a Gorgonian Coral Fan, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Fred Bavendam / Butterfly Perch (Caesioperca lepidoptera) swimming amidst Gorgonian Sea Whips, fans and various kinds of sponges at 40 meters depth, Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia

Fred Bavendam / Butterfly Perch (Caesioperca lepidoptera) and diver swimming amidst Gorgonian Sea Whips, Fans and various kinds of Sponges at 40 meters depth, Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia

Fred Bavendam / Basslet (Pseudanthias sp) school, swimming near a Sea Fan (Melithaea sp) and a Blue Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)

Fred Bavendam / Basslet (Pseudanthias sp) school, swimming around a deep bommie with Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) sponge and a gorgonian sea fan, Andaman Sea, Thailand

Georgette Douwma / Featherstar {Crinoidea} on Gorgonian coral. Indonesia

Peter Scoones / Golden samselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) with Gorgonian fan. Indo-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.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of gorgonian (Gorgoneaceae) coral. Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of polyps on gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of polyps on gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of polyps on gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of crinoid or feather star on gorgonian. Indonesia.

David Hall / Gorgonian wrapper (Nemanthus annamensis) anemones on stalk of coral. Komodo, Indonesia.

Pascal Kobeh / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) pregnant male living commensally on Seafan / Gorgonian (Muricella sp). Flores Sea, Indonesia.

Pascal Kobeh / Longfin bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus), three in front of Giant seafan / gorgonian (Annella mollis). Indian Ocean, Madagascar.

Pascal Kobeh / Longfin bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) shoal in front of Giant seafan / gorgonian (Annella mollis). Indian Ocean, Madagascar.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Polyps feeding, Gorgonian sea fan (Gorgoniidae) Xiaoliuqiu Island, Taiwan

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Temperate deep water reef with sponges, sea whips, and feather stars, Governor Island Marine Reserve, Bicheno, Tasmania, Australia

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Temperate deep water reef with sponges, sea whips, and feather stars, Governor Island Marine Reserve, Bicheno, Tasmania, Australia

Pascal Kobeh / Gorgonian pandalid shrimp / Dragon shrimp (Miropandalus hardingi) on a gorgonian coral (Antipathes lentipinna), Sulu sea, Philippines

Pascal Kobeh / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) on a Muricella sp. Seafan / gorgonian. It is obviously a pregnant male, Sulu sea, Philippines

Pascal Kobeh / Several pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) on a Muricella sp. Seafan / gorgonian. There is obviously among them one pregnant male, Sulu sea, Philippines

Alex Mustard / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti,) hiding in a seafan (Muricella sp.). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.Cropped.

Shane Gross / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) holding on to a branch of a sea fan coral. Malapascua, Philippines.

Georgette Douwma / Gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia. Indo-West Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Brittlestars on Gorgonian branches (Ophiopholis species). West Papua, Indonesia. Indo-West Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Tunicate (Atriolum robustum) on a gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia. Indo-West Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Denise's Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus denise) in gorgonian. West Papua, indo-West Pacific.

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) and sea fan, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Alex Mustard / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in a seafan (Muricella sp.). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

David Fleetham / Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in coral, Philippines.

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

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of Coral reef scenery with gorgonian, soft corals and Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis). Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of Gorgonian sea fan (Melithaea sp.) Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Georgette Douwma / Barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria) and gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Polyps on gorgonian fan coral. West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Polyps on gorgonian fan coral. West Papua, Indonesia.

Linda Pitkin / Feather star (crinoid) on Sea fan (Gorgonian coral), Triton Bay, near Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia

Linda Pitkin / Sea fan (Gorgonian coral), Triton Bay, near Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia

Linda Pitkin / Sea fan (Gorgonian coral), Triton Bay, near Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia

David Fleetham / Split level view of Fijian reef with Alconarian and Gorgonian coral and Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Fiji.

David Fleetham / Alconarian coral (Alcyonacea) and Gorgonian coral (Gorgonaceae), Fiji.

David Fleetham / Gorgonian, alconarian coral and schooling Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonneti) Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Alconarian and Gorgonian coral with schooling Anthias (Anthias) Fiji.

David Fleetham / Gorgonian coral (Gorganacea) with polyps extended for feeding, Savusavu, Fiji.

David Fleetham / Diver at entrance to cave filled with Gorgonian (Gorganacea) and Alcyonarian coral (Chironephthya genus), Bequ Lagoon, Fiji. Model released.

David Fleetham / Schooling Bigeye jacks (Caranx sexfasciatus) passing Gorgonian coral (Gorgonia), Tubbataha Reef National Park, Philippines.

David Fleetham / Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) and Gorgonian coral (Gorgonia) feeding at night, Tubbataha Reef, Philippines.

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

David Fleetham / Longnose hawkfish, Oxycirrhites typus, on gorgonian coral. Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Female sheephead fish (Semicossyphus pulcher) and gorgonian fan amongst giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) off Catalina Island, California, USA.

Richard Robinson / Crinoidea (Feather Star) in a Gorgonian Fan (Gorgonacea) at Ogea Levu, Lau Island Group, Fiji.

Linda Pitkin / Scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) amongst branches of gorgonian coral (Eunicea) Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, Caribbean.

Alex Mustard / Whitebelly damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster) male and female laying egg on old gorgonian branch. The Alternatives, Sinai, Egypt. Red Sea.

Franco Banfi / Crinoids or feather star and gorgonian fan (Subergorgia mollis) Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sulu Sea, Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines

Franco Banfi / Gorgonian fan (Subergorgia mollis) in crinoids or feather star and soft coral, Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sulu Sea, Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver and Gorgonian fan (Acabaria sp.) Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sulu Sea, Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines

Sue Daly / Gorgonian coral (Paramuricea placomus) Trondheimsfjord, Norway, July.

Sue Daly / Gorgonian coral (Paramuricea placomus) Trondheimsfjord, Norway, July.

Nature Production / Bargibant's seahorse or pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site, Japan

Constantinos Petrinos / Gorgonian seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in Gorgonian, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Constantinos Petrinos / Saw-blade shrimp (Tozeuma armatum) on gorgonian, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Franco Banfi / Gorgonian fan (Subergorgia mollis) with jewel basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), Aldabra Atoll, Natural World Heritage Site, Seychelles, Indian Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Gorgonian fan (Subergorgia mollis) with scuba diver in background, Aldabra Atoll, Natural World Heritage Site, Seychelles, Indian Ocean.

Georgette Douwma / Gorgonian / Sea whip coral (Ellisella ceratophyta), West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Painted sweetlips (Diagramma pictum) over gorgonian. West Papua, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Gorgonian / Sea whip coral (Ellisella ceratophyta), coral reef, West Papua, Indonesia.