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January 21, 2021: Coral Polyps

In this close-up view of an octocoral in the family Isididae, you can see the polyps are tightly closed. The white lines running through the polyps are sclerites, which are part of the microskeleton of an octocoral that provides support and protection. This image was collected during a 2015 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition dive to explore the southeast rift zone of a seamount east of Necker Island.

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2012 Hohonu Moana. Download larger version (jpg, 982 KB).

In this close-up view of an octocoral in the family Isididae, you can see the polyps are tightly closed. The white lines running through the polyps are sclerites, which are part of the microskeleton of an octocoral that provides support and protection. This image was collected during a 2015 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition dive to explore the southeast rift zone of a seamount east of Necker Island.