Deep sea coral

Deep sea coral. “Bramble” bamboo coral. These colonies (at least when “younger” have very thin branches and grow in these tangled thickets. You can see the polyps rising from several branches; they are widely spaced along each branch. There are many associated reddish brown brittle stars attached to the coral branches.

Photo Location: Mytilus Seamount, south side, 3262-2593m
Photo Date: 20130805T190100Z