A group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the type. See Illust. under Alcyonaria.

comprising the soft corals

The Alcyonacea, or the soft corals are an order of corals which do not produce calcium carbonate cups, instead they contain minute, spiney skeletal elements called sclerites. One type is dead man's fingers, which is a type that is no larger than 7 centimeters and is found in warm water reagions. Other organisms in this class include sea pens, sea fans, sea whips and fleshy soft corals.