Giant Sea Fan

Annella mollis is a species of soft corals belonging to the family Subergorgiidae. They live in areas in the Indo-West Pacific, often around 12 to 18 meters deep, in lower reef slopes, on rocks and sand substrates.

Description

It has a tough, but flexible main axel with fans in the same plain. These carry the polyps. With its roots it attaches to hard substrates. It can grow up to well over 200 cm.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific from Resd Sea to Fiji.

Habitat

It is found on steep outer reefs or drop-offs in strong currents down to at least 50 meters depth. It feeds on microplankton, which it sifts out the water using the polyps (also referred to as filter feeding). It reproduces by releasing asexual gametes, that disperse by the current, and then settle to the substrate and grow into new individuals. These is the largest species of sea fan, but it grows very slowly.