Corky sea finger
Briarium asbestinum
(Pallas, 1766)

Description:
The colony is composed of upright cylindrical branches of about 1 cm in diameter, which are jointed only at the common incrusting base and lower parts of the colony. The long, brown tentacles of the polyps give the species a hairy appearance. If touched, the tentacles will slowly retract, exposing a smooth to nodular surface with numerous small apertures, or openings, all over the branch. The branches can be 60 cm tall.

Color:
Purplish gray; polyps brownish.

Habitat:
Inhabit most reef environments, especially shallow fringing, patch and back reefs areas, to about 30 meters depth.

Distribution:
Abundant to common South Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Subclass Octocorallia
Order Gorgonacea
Genus Briarium
Species Briarium asbestinum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Corky sea finger [English]
Paarse kurkgorgoon [Dutch]
Doigts de mer [French]
Seefinger [German]

Cairns, S., 1977. Guide to the Commoner Shallow-water Gorgonians (Sea Whips, Sea Feathers and Sea Fans) of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Region. Sea Grant Field Guide Series, 6.

Humann, P., 1993. Reef Coral Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Voss, G.L., 1976. Seashore life of Florida and the Carribbean. Banyan Books, Inc. Miami, Florida.

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