SoCal algae question

[MaxBottomtime]

Anyone know what these are? I find them on steel and concrete structures below 120 feet, but never on sand/rocky substrate. They are reddish to purple flower looking things. They are about three inches in diameter.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/748/20234caissons_corynactus.JPG

 

[jlyle]

Some sort of Rhodophyta. Porphyra sp?

 

[kelpmermaid]

I remember seeing this on the Yukon; it seemed iridescent. My buddy took a photo, and we came home and tried to find out what it was. I think it's a red alga as well, but I can't remember what we thought it was or where we found it. Argh!

 

[Divemaster-K]

They are called Club-tipped Anemone or Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)

 

[kelpmermaid]

They are called Club-tipped Anemone or Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)

No, not the anemones, but the purplish things in the upper right area of the photo.

 

[Divemaster-K]

Hmmm... I'm stumped. Looks like some form of algae. I do not recall seeing them on the Yukon, do they grow in clumps, or independantly?

 

[Divemaster-K]

Some sort of Rhodophyta. Porphyra sp?

Check it:

http://www.sonoma.edu/biology/algae/Porphyra.html

 

[jlyle]

Still working on it. Not porphyra...too deep.

 

[archman]

California red algae... ugh. Good luck!

 

[Nay]

I saw some of the same in La Bufadora last month. Bright purple like violets.