Drs. Odalisca Breedy & Jorge Cortés, Costa Rica
Info
The fan coral Pacifigorgia cairnsi is a really effective plankton scavenger, as the coral's dense body structures keep almost all plankton drifting by!
These fan gorgonians have been discovered on rocky reefs of Caño Island, Colombia on vertical rock walls, further specimens have been encountered on rock walls covered with sponges, bryozoans and algae.
The species co-occurs with Pacifigorgia irene and Pacifigorgia rubicunda, but is the dominant species at some sites.
Colonies found in Ballena Marine National Park, Costa Rica, are smaller than those from Caño Island.
We found this species at two different rocky sites with strong currents in Ballena Marine National Park.
This species was also observed in December 2001 in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, where it lives on vertical walls in deep rocky reefs.
Etymology.
This species named in honor of Dr. Stephen Cairns (USNM) for his encouragement, guidance, and valuable friendship throughout the course of this project, which began four years ago.
These fan gorgonians have been discovered on rocky reefs of Caño Island, Colombia on vertical rock walls, further specimens have been encountered on rock walls covered with sponges, bryozoans and algae.
The species co-occurs with Pacifigorgia irene and Pacifigorgia rubicunda, but is the dominant species at some sites.
Colonies found in Ballena Marine National Park, Costa Rica, are smaller than those from Caño Island.
We found this species at two different rocky sites with strong currents in Ballena Marine National Park.
This species was also observed in December 2001 in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, where it lives on vertical walls in deep rocky reefs.
Etymology.
This species named in honor of Dr. Stephen Cairns (USNM) for his encouragement, guidance, and valuable friendship throughout the course of this project, which began four years ago.
