scubaseason

Dead Man's Fingers

Alcyonium digitatum

Sighting evidence at Dalvík Wall, Eyjafjörður

Soft coral colonies of dead man's fingers colonise every available hard surface on the wall, turning cream-white when polyps retract and becoming luminous yellow-orange when fully extended. They are suspension feeders that thrive in the gentle current flowing through the fjord, and their polyp density increases markedly at depths below 12 metres. These colonies grow slowly over decades, making them indicators of low-disturbance habitat.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Dead Man's Fingers is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites