Spiral whip coral off the coast of Indonesia
© WaterFrame/Alamy
Spiral whip coral off the coast of Indonesia
This diver is having a close encounter with coral–in this case, a member of the genus Cirrhipathes, commonly known as ‘whip coral’ because of its twisted, coiled appearance. Whip corals can be found in parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, where they attach themselves to coral reefs. Despite their bright exterior, whip corals are actually considered black corals, a larger group of deep-water corals, and inside they possess a dark skeleton.
Related Images
Mona Vale Rockpool, Sydney, Australia
Atlantic spotted dolphins near Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal
Manatee in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Aerial view of Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, Thailand
Group of giant cuttlefish in Spencer Gulf, off Whyalla, South Australia
Crescent-tail bigeye fish in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
A green sea turtle swims in the Pacific Ocean near the French special collectivity of New Caledonia
Today on Bing
Trunk Bay, St. John, Virgin Islands National Park
Aug 02, 2024
Sandstone butte in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Aug 02, 2023
Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore, Piedmont, Italy
Aug 02, 2020