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A deep-sea carnation coral on the sea floor

Deep-sea carnation coral

Gersemia juliepackardae

On view
Into the Deep
Animal type
Invertebrates
Ecosystem
Deep sea
Relatives
Soft corals; Order: Alcyonacea
Diet
Plankton
Range
From 1,600 to 8,200 feet (500–2,500 m) in the northeastern Pacific Ocean
Size
ĪTo 8 inches (20 cm) tall

Meet the deep-sea carnation coral

This soft coral may look like a bouquet of flowers, but it's a live animal. Those fuzzy, pink “petals” are the coral’s tentacles. It stretches them into the passing currents to snag tiny bits of food.

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