Formosan Soft Coral

Found in shallow waters, often like a mat covering dead corals, over coral and rocky reefs. When coral is open they have finger like projections but when retracted they become clump like.

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.