Golden sea fan

Isis hippuris

Corals and anemones
IUCN: Not evaluated

Usual depth3–19 m
Water temperature24–30 °C
Best monthsMay, August, and December
How commonOccasional

Photo credit: (c) Ryan McMinds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist

About this species

Isis hippuris, also known as sea bamboo, is a species of bamboo coral found in the Western Pacific Ocean, commonly near the coasts of Indonesia. I. hippuris reproduce asexually, and is abundant throughout its habitats in Indonesia. For centuries, I. hippuris has been identified by its bamboo or bony-looking structure. Additionally, it is notable for producing Hippuristanol, a molecule that could potentially have anti-cancer applications. While no actual conclusion regarding Hippuristanol in I. hippuris has been published, scientists and marine biologists continue to study how the molecule could be used in cancer research and recovery. Although only found in the Western Pacific Ocean, I. hippuris is highly sought after across the globe, and is seen as a symbol of beauty.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Isis hippuris”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 15 records
February: 17 records
March: 18 records
April: 52 records
May: 59 records
June: 33 records
July: 50 records
August: 56 records
September: 26 records
October: 22 records
November: 16 records
December: 75 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 3–19 m · Deepest record: 1,018 m

0–10 m: 95 records
10–20 m: 192 records
20–30 m: 15 records
30–40 m: 5 records
40–50 m: 2 records
50–60 m: 0 records
60–70 m: 0 records
70–80 m: 0 records
80–90 m: 0 records
90–100 m: 0 records
100–110 m: 0 records
110+ m: 8 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 24–30 °C

22–24 °C: 2 records
24–26 °C: 196 records
26–28 °C: 128 records
28–30 °C: 36 records

Photos

(c) Ryan McMinds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
(c) Ryan McMinds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
no rights reserved · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
no rights reserved · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
(c) Geoff Shuetrim, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
(c) Ryan McMinds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist

Names and classification

English: Golden sea fan, Sea fan, Bamboo Sea Fan, golden sea fan, sea fan

Names in 2 more languages

German: Goldener Seefächer, Königsgliederkoralle
Japanese: セキコクヤギ

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
469 open-data records from 1758 to 2014.
Species data updated October 26, 2026.

Log what you see on your next dive

The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.

Join the waitlist