doctocoral's Identifications

Common name: Dead Man's Fingers
Scientific name: Alcyonium digitatum

Habitat types: Quiet waters on rocks and pilings, sub tidal to 25'
Observed: Diving off of Canoe Beach at the chimney's, at about 20'.

Physical description: small, white stalked with a pinnate tentacles.

Fun fact: During the fall, they appear to be smaller because their tentacles are retracted. During this time, they are not feeding at all because they are preparing to spawn.

Used the Martinez guide: Marine Life of the North Atlantic to identify.