| The gorgonians’ chemical defences do an excellent job of deterring most fishes and other large predators. But the marine snail called Cyphoma gibbosum has learned how to navigate the gorgonians’ toxic chemical mine-field and exploit these abundant corals for both food and shelter, giving themselves an edge over their fellow reef competitors. This predator inflicts damage to more gorgonian colonies per year than even the most destructive hurricane.
Image credit: Kristen Whalen, MIT WHOI Joint Program graduate student |
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