Red Mediterranean hand (Alcyonium acaule)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Alcyonium acaule
- Common name
- Red Mediterranean hand
- Category
- Corals
- Family
- Alcyoniidae
- Genus
- Alcyonium
- Size
- 10–30 cm
- Depth
- 15–200 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky, reef
- Behaviours
- sessile, colonial
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Alcyonium acaule forms fleshy red-orange to purple colonies up to 30 cm, in digitate lobes recalling a hand. White 8-tentacled polyps when extended. Attached to vertical rocky walls and coralligenous overhangs in the Mediterranean between 15 and 200 m. Plankton filter feeder. Unlike A. palmatum, strictly Mediterranean. Retracts polyps when disturbed.
Photo of Red Mediterranean hand
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Red Mediterranean hand?
- Red Mediterranean hand (Alcyonium acaule) reaches 10–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Red Mediterranean hand?
- Red Mediterranean hand is found between 15–200 m deep.
- Is the Red Mediterranean hand dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Red Mediterranean hand?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Red Mediterranean hand?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Alcyonium
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 125331)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5185155)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia