Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Ophiuroidea

Order: Phrynophiurida 

Family: Gorgonocephalidae

Scientific name: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae

 

Norwegian: medusahode

(Ingdalen - The Trondheim fjord / 26 meters / 2.01.2003)

Distribution: According to the literature, the Gorgon's head is usually found deeper than 50 meters, but on certain locations in the Trondheim fjord, I find them on almost every dive, from 20 meters and down. The large individuals are living on hard substrate, preferably on exposed locations, while smaller ones often climb into the Gorgonian fan or other hard corals to take advantage of all the food drifting by.

There are three similar species along the coast of Norway, two of them exist only along the coast of Finnmark, while the third has only been found deeper than 75 meters. These have a smoother central disk.

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