Red Sea Whip

Ellisella ceratophyta

The red sea whip (Ellisella ceratophyta) is a gorgonian soft coral that can grow up to 2 meters tall. It has a single, unbranched or minimally branched whip-like form with a deep red to orange coloration and small polyps extending from the central axis. Found across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to the western Pacific, it inhabits reef walls, current-swept slopes, and drop-offs at depths of 10 to 40 meters. This species anchors to hard substrate and extends into the current to filter-feed on plankton. Its slender form often hosts commensal organisms including whip coral shrimp and gobies that match the coral's color, making each whip a miniature ecosystem worth examining. Sea whips swaying in ocean currents create dramatic underwater scenes, especially when backlit against blue water, and the tiny commensal creatures they host are among the most sought-after macro subjects.