Are sea fans plants?

No they are animals. They belong to a group of corals called gorgonians, which possess a central skeleton of gorgonin (protein), which allows for their flexibility.

Glossary of Terms

Patch Reef

a mound like or flat-topped organic reef, generally less than 1 km across, frequently forming part of a larger reef complex.

Feeder Beach

An artificially widened beach serving to nourish downdrift beaches by natural littoral currents or forces.

Groyne

Narrow, roughly shore-normal structure built to reduce longshore currents, and/or to trap and retain littoral material. Most groins are of rock and extend from the backshore, well onto the foreshore and rarely even further offshore.

Primary production

The process in which organisms synthesize organic matter from inorganic materials, or the organic matter itself.

Pollution (marine)

The introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to maritime activities including fishing, impairment of quality for use of sea water and reduction of amenities.

The contamination of the environment or poisonous substances.

Toe

Lowest part of sea and portside breakwater slope, generally forming the transition to the seabed.

Search form

You are here

Are sea fans plants?