Description

Also known as Black Sea Rod, Giant Split-pore Sea Rod, Gorgonian Sea Rod, Nodding Sea Rod, Octocoral, Sea Rod, Sea Whip, Slit-pore Sea Rod, Split-pore Sea Rod, Whip Coral.

Found anchored to the substrate, over current prone cave floors, isolated patch reefs and deep water terrace bottoms, in inshore waters of coral and rocky reefs. Rarely found above 5m extending their tentacles to feed on passing plankton.
They feed on zooplankton.
Length - 100cm
Depth - 1-50m
Widespread Western Atlantic, Caribbean

Most soft corals have no true skeleton and so their bodies are flexible.
Some soft corals have spikes very similar to rose thorns which may help to protect against predators.
Soft corals are food and shelter to many marine animals, some of which hide in the branches and take on the colouration of these corals. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plexaurella_nutans