Dead Man's Fingers

Dead Man's Fingers is a soft coral that forms pale, fleshy finger-like projections from rocks and wreck structures, typically in cool temperate waters at depths of 5–40 metres. The polyps retract fully when disturbed, leaving a stubby, ghostly appearance that explains its unsettling common name. It feeds on plankton and is a common sight on northern European coasts, where it thrives in moderate to strong currents.