Corky Sea Finger

Briareum est un genre de gorgones de la famille des Briareidae.

Briareum asbestinum, commonly known as the corky sea finger, is a species of a soft coral in the family Briareidae. It inhabits coral reefs and rocky bottoms in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida, often growing to 30 cm at depths of one to 40 metres. Taxonomy and systematics Although different in form, and different enough genetically to be considered as separate populations, the small encrusting polyps of Briareum asbestinum that grow on surfaces are still considered as conspecific with the larger, tall tube-shaped form.

Briareum es un género de corales marinos que pertenecen al suborden Scleraxonia, del orden Alcyonacea, dentro de la clase Anthozoa. Enmarcados comúnmente entre los corales blandos, ya que carecen de esqueleto, como los corales duros del orden Scleractinia, por lo que no son corales hermatípicos. Forman colonias de pólipos, unidos por una masa carnosa de cenénquima, o tejido común generado por ellos.