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deep sea ray and deep sea coral, a sea whip


This ray is an active predator of the deep sea, not uncommon we believe, but the encounter of the ray with Alvin was not common for us, and quite exciting. In this photo is also a deep sea coral, a sea whip, of the Order Gorgonacea. Deep sea corals are unique creatures, related to those that inhabit and populate tropical coral reefs, though these live in a world without light.


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http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02galapagos/logs/jun04/media/sea_whip.html