Deadman’s Fingers

Alcyonium digitatum

Deadman’s fingers is a type of sea sponge.  This species is found in the ocean, estuaries, and is mainly found worldwide in bodies of water.  The domain is Eukarya, the kingdom is Animalia, the phylum is Porifera, the class is Octocorallia, the order is Alcyonacea, the family is Alcyoniidae, the genus is Alcyonium, and the species is Digitatum.  Deadman’s fingers are either pink, orange, white, grey, or yellow.  They have little pours and looks like a dead man's fingers.  A structural adaptation is that these animals have a strong structure to go against the current,, and have pores to help them filter the water. A behavioral adaptation is they are able to release a toxin that would help them grow.  The diet of a deadman’s fingers is bacteria, phytoplankton, and nutrients in waste.  The predators of deadman’s fingers are turtles, fish, crustaceans, and humans.  They are autotrophs, have asymmetry, and are  ectothermic.  Did you know that deadman’s fingers are used in feminine products?  I got this picture from www.arkive.org.