This is a healthy branch of Lophelia coral sampled from the deep ocean reefs off the coast of South Carolina. Unlike tropical species of coral, Lophelia possesses no zooxanthellae (a symbiotic dinoflagellate) which often give their coralline hosts beautiful colors.

Image ID: expl0362, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: South Atlantic Bight, Southeast United States
Photographer: Bruce Moravchik, NOAA
Credit: Islands in the Stream Expedition 2002. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration

Category: Ocean exploration/Invertebrates/

• High Resolution Photo Available