Gorgonia is the name-giving genus of the group of horn corals (Gorgonacea) from the family of soft corals (Alcyonacea). They are called gorgonians or sea fans, which is indeed the program here: the shape is usually a fanned lattice. Gorgonians in particular have a horny skeleton made of a flexible material called gorgonine, which is then covered by the tissue, which, as in all soft corals, contains calcareous needles that are an important feature for taxonomic differentiation. Gorgonia are zooxanthellate and can feed on light through their symbiotic algae, but also take up dissolved nutrients and filter food particles from the current. They are mainly distributed in the Caribbean region. For keeping a constant, preferably laminar current is most important, water quality is rather of secondary importance, and light can in principle be tolerated a lot, but this is not a requirement. Several species of Gorgonia exist, but differentiation is difficult and usually of little use, as the requirements are similar. The color is usually purple to gray.
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