Gorgonian Sea Fan

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.