Gorgonian Sea Fan

Photo: Miguel Júdice · CC BY-NC

Large colonies of pink sea fans up to 80 centimetres tall grow on the seamount pinnacles, their orientation perpendicular to the prevailing current maximising particle capture. They are a protected species under the EU Habitats Directive and their density at Aljezur indicates the seamount has escaped significant bottom trawling. The fans provide structural habitat for a distinct community of associated invertebrates including gorgonian brittle stars and the rare nudibranch Tritonia nilsodhneri that feeds exclusively on them.