Gorgonian sea fan
Subergorgia mollis
Sighting evidence at Kendwa Reef, Zanzibar Island
The sea fans at Kendwa's outer wall are among the largest in Zanzibar, some individual colonies exceeding 2 metres in width and representing 50 to 100 years of growth. They orient precisely perpendicular to the current to maximise prey interception, each polyp extending tiny tentacles to capture passing zooplankton. Sea fans are nursery habitat for pygmy seahorses, longnose hawkfish and numerous crab species that shelter in the branches — careful examination of a large fan can reveal dozens of commensals invisible to a passing diver.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Gorgonian sea fan is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.