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August 25, 2021: Spiral Coral

The beautiful curly-cue shape shown here is a characteristic of this chrysogorgid octocoral, called Iridogorgia.

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs. Download larger version (jpg, 1.2 MB).

The beautiful curly-cue shape shown here is a characteristic of this chrysogorgid octocoral, called Iridogorgia. We imaged this one while exploring on an unnamed seamount west of Winslow Reef complex, within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, as part of the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition.