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scientific endorsement
ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Neptune's Lace

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean · Northeast Atlantic · Atlantic Ocean

In a cave or beneath an overhang, Neptune's lace catches the eye with its delicately perforated fan shape. This filter-feeding colony uses currents to obtain food and provides refuge for small organisms, while remaining extremely vulnerable to the slightest contact.

Habitat de Neptune's Lace Habitat
Rocky habitat
Profondeur de Neptune's Lace Depth
10-70 m
Groupe biologique de Neptune's Lace Group
Bryozoan
Rôle écologique de Neptune's Lace Role
Filter feeder

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Neptune's lace is a rigid calcareous colony with a very open pattern. It forms fans or rosettes made of wavy sheets pierced with many small, regular openings.Its colour ranges from orange-yellow to pale pink. Each small cavity corresponds to an individual living in the colony.Even though it looks solid, its structure is very fragile and breaks easily, especially at the edges.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

Neptune's lace mainly lives in dimly lit areas such as rocky drop-offs, caves, overhangs or coralligenous habitats.It attaches to hard surfaces, sometimes to living organisms. It prefers places where the current brings food.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

Neptune's lace feeds by filtering water. Each individual uses small tentacles to catch plankton and suspended particles.When these tentacles are extended, the colony may look slightly fluffy.

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Other species — Bryozoan

Calvet's Adeonella False Coral Ross coral

Same habitat and depth

Rocky seabed species

Same ecological role and depth

Filter-feeding species

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