Alcyonium digitatum

Overview

Young colonies encrust surfaces; older colonies form fleshy lobes. White or orange tissue surrounds translucent white polyps.

Polyps take suspended plankton. Seasonal withdrawal and surface films can alter the colony's appearance.

Rock and shell provide attachment in moving water. Museum identification distinguishes two similar Alcyonium species and records northeastern Atlantic occurrence; former New England records belong elsewhere.

Origins & earliest records

Authority Linnaeus, 1758 as given in the museum account title; this records naming, not evolutionary origin. Original type material was not examined.

Evidence & interpretation

MarLIN species account and the Habitas (National Museums NI) marine life account citing Picton and Morrow 2016.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Alcyonium digitatum Linnaeus, 1758

   Picton and Morrow · 2016

   Selected bibliography; museum identification account including similar species.

2. 02

   Dead man's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum)

   · 2008

   Selected bibliography; MarLIN institutional species account.

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

Source note: Family placement is stated by the museum account; higher ranks were not established in the supplied sources.

1. FamilyAlcyoniidae
2. SpeciesAlcyonium digitatum

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Institutional species accountDead man's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum)Research access: 2026-10-07
2. Museum species accountAlcyonium digitatum Linnaeus, 1758Research access: 2026-10-07

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.