A small delicate bamboo coral (based on banding on stalk) with extended polyps

Yellow, white, and large branche sof various corals. A hermit crab in a white slit shell crawls on the large branch.

A yellow coral with polyps retracted.

Tiny white zoanthids colonizing a coral bush.

A spiraling Iridogorgid coral living near 2,000 meters on the margin of a steep scarp south of the De Soto Canyon. A chirostylid crab, with chelae that are elongate and are directed straight forward, makes a home among the exquisite branches of this colony.

A metallogorgia poodle coral with an associated brittle star.

Bamboo whip coral with very distinctive black bands.

A light pink coral bush with intertwined large brittle star. Bamboo coral is seen at the top of the image.

Closeup of retracted polyps on light pink coral bush seen in image expl7431.

A light pink coral bush with intertwined large brittle star. Bamboo coral is seen at the top of the image.

Closeup of stalk and anchor area of light pink coral bush seen in image expl7431 .

Bamboo whip coral growing from a sand and mud bottom area.

Closeup of polyps and red mouth of bamboo whip coral. Notice the dark band in upper right center.

Pen coral growing on a sand bottom A large white gastropod shell is behind the coral.

Pen coral polyps with purpled mouth. Unknown orange material is seen on the stalk.

Pen coral with orange material on a sandy bottom

A large peach-colored octocoral bush, a small white coral bush, numerous large white anemones, smaller brownish red anemones, white golf ball sponges in the lower right corner, and an elongated claw of a squat lobster.

Beautiful peach-colored octoral with delicate white polyps.

Beautiful peach-colored octoral with delicate white polyps.

A variety of life forms are seen in this image. A white octocoral, a peach- colored octoral, a white sponge, and the tentacles of a white anemone.

Beautiful peach-colored octoral with delicate white polyps.

Beautiful peach-colored octoral with delicate white polyps and the tip of a white octocoral in the lower left corner. A small white shrimp is seen in the upper left. Look for its two black eyes.

A squat lobster in the branches of a beautiful peach-colored octocoral with delicate white polyps.

Beautiful peach-colored octoral with delicate white polyps.

Beautiful peach-colored octoral with delicate white polyps. Look closely for the translucent, nearly invisible shrimp in the lower center of the image. Its two dark-colored eyes give away its location.

A squat lobster in the branches of a beautiful peach-colored octocoral with delicate white polyps.

A shrimp can be seen in the middle of this image. On the upper right are the "legs" of a yellow feather star crinoid. White octocoral polyps are seen on this beautiful peach-colored coral.

A relatively large yellow feather star crinoid secured to the top of a small peach-colored octocoral.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Colonies of Lophelia coral with outstretched feeding polyps were discovered at 385 meters along the upper crest of a small mound at the north end of De Soto Canyon. Galatheid crabs seen here are strongly associated with reefs of Lophelia. Dead Lophelia skeletons below living colonies with live anemones were also observed here.

Description not available.

Paramuricid coral with an attached large white anemone

Small white octocoral in front of a yellow paramuricid coral.

Base of dead? coral with purple hydroids.

A Paramuricid coral bush with associated brittlestar

Closeup of Paramuricid coral bush with associated brittlestar

Purple anemone? corallimorphan? with white-tipped tentacles.

Purple translucent pen coral with polyps extended.

Red anthomastus coral with polyps out

Red anthomastus coral with polyps out

Closeup of anthomastus coral polyps.

Red anthomastus coral on rock wall

A "pregnant" octocoral, as evidenced by the eight tentacles seen on its polyps. The white dots you see in its almost translucent body may be developing embryos - baby corals.

A "pregnant" octocoral, as evidenced by the eight tentacles seen on its polyps. The white dots you see in its almost translucent body may be developing embryos - baby corals.

Red anthomastus coral with its polyps retracted.

Description not available.

A "pregnant" octocoral, as evidenced by the eight tentacles seen on its polyps. The white dots you see in its almost translucent body may be developing embryos - baby corals.