Small sea fan (Gorgonia mariae)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Octocorallia · Order: Malacalcyonacea · Family: Gorgoniidae · Genus: Gorgonia.

Accepted name: Gorgonia mariae · Authority: Bayer, 1961 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 290032.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=290032 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Gorgonia mariae. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Habitat zone: sessile.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 44143) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Gorgonia-mariae.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,011 georeferenced occurrence records for Gorgonia mariae are published through GBIF from 25 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 51 distinct locations from a sample of 1,011 records, omitting 9 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Puerto Rico (873); Cayman Islands (21); Mexico (17); Martinique (15); Belize (10).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5185380) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5185380&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=290032 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

G. mariae is the smallest sea fan in the Caribbean, growing to a height of about 30 cm. The much-branched structure is mostly two dimensional, and as it enlarges, the branches become cross-connected to form a net. The branches are only slightly compressed and the side branches are pinnately divided. The colour varies; most specimens are whitish and others are yellow, and often some violet colour is seen near the base.

Two other growth forms exist in the Caribbean; one has many short, free branches on one or both faces of the net; the other, which is usually bright yellow, has the lower part of the colony anastomising and net-like, while the upper and outer parts have free branches. The supporting axial rod in the main stem and branches is formed of gorgonin, calcified to some extent, a flexible and almost unbreakable material. This enables the gorgonian to brace itself and sway with the current so that the polyps can expand to feed.

Distribution

The species is native to the tropical western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It is found anchored to the seabed in moderately deep water, ranging in depth from about 5 to 47 m.

Biology

In G. mariae, the gametes are shed into the coelenteron or body cavity of each polyp and pass through the mouth into the open sea, where fertilisation takes place. The fertilised egg develops into a planula larva, which is planktonic. The tentacles, septa, and pharynx begin to develop before the larva settles on its aboral (non-mouth) end and metamorphs into a juvenile sea fan.

In 1995, a disease affected gorgonians in the Caribbean, with Gorgonia flabellum and Gorgonia ventalina being particularly affected. A terrestrial Aspergillus, a pathogenic fungus, was found to be responsible, and G. mariae was also susceptible.

The symptoms included tissue dieback, abnormal tufts of growth, and some purpling of affected areas. The disease varied in severity from mild to severe, with full recovery taking place on some occasions and mass deaths on others. Aspergillosis sydowii, a common species found in soil, had not previously been known to affect marine invertebrates.

Source: Wikipedia: Gorgonia mariae — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgonia_mariae (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.