The whip fan (Eunicella albicans), also called the flagellar sea fan, is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Eunicellidae.[2]

Whip fan
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Octocorallia
Order: Alcyonacea
Family: Gorgoniidae
Genus: Eunicella
Species:
E. albicans
Binomial name
Eunicella albicans
(Kolliker, 1865)[1]

Description

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This fan is orange and has flexible whip-like branches. It may grow up to 70 cm tall and have branches of 0.3 to 0.5 cm wide.[3][4]

Distribution

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This sea fan is found only around the South African coast from the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth in 10–30 m of water. It is endemic to this region.[citation needed]

Ecology

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This sea fan is preyed upon by the whip fan nudibranch, Duvaucelia odhneri, previously known as Tritonia nilsodhneri, which closely resembles the feeding fan.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Eunicella albicans (Kölliker, 1865)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  2. ^ McFadden, C.S.; Cordeiro, R.; Williams, G.; van Ofwegen, L. (2023). World List of Octocorallia. Eunicella albicans (Kölliker, 1865). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213054 on 2023-10-26
  3. ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
  4. ^ Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9