Purple Sea Fan

Gorgonia mariae

Sighting evidence at Lobster Cave, Little Liuqiu Island

Photo: spirula · CC BY-NC

Large purple gorgonian fans frame the cave entrance at 10 meters, oriented perpendicular to the prevailing current to maximize filter feeding on passing plankton. Sea fan hawkfish perch motionless in the fan branches, camouflaged against the purple tissue and invisible until movement betrays them. The fans here are among the largest on the island and have been growing undisturbed inside the protected area for an estimated 15 to 20 years.

Evidence at this site

0 records within 25 km

Confidence: low

No date on file

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Purple Sea Fan

Evidence at this site

Also seen at other sites