Lyre Gorgonian

Overview

The Lyre gorgonian (Ctenocella pectinata) is a distinctive sea fan known for its elegant, comb-like structure that resembles a harp or lyre. This azooxanthellate coral is characterized by long, unbranched stems that emerge from a lower horizontal branch, rising parallel to one another in a single plane.

Appearance

Colonies typically display a permanent coloration ranging from reddish-brown and salmon-orange to yellowish or white, with contrasting white polyps. When retracted, these polyps appear as small mounds along the smooth, thin, cylindrical stems. The overall growth form is highly recognizable, though positive identification often requires microscopic examination of the internal sclerites, which are predominantly double-headed in shape.

Distribution & habitat

This species is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asian waters, and the coasts of Australia. It is commonly found in marine environments, often inhabiting deeper reef sections or slopes where it can grow to significant sizes.

Feeding

As an azooxanthellate species, the Lyre gorgonian does not rely on symbiotic algae for energy. Instead, it is a suspension feeder that extends its polyps to capture and filter tiny food particles and zooplankton carried by water currents.