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Alcyonacea
Alcyonacea (soft corals; class Anthozoa, subclass Octocorallia) An order of corals that appeared first in the Lower Jurassic and which contains the modern genus Alcyonium (dead man's fingers). Members of the order are characterized by having retractable polyps with eight, branching tentacles. The polyps are embedded in the body mass which has a skeleton of numerous, free, calcareous spicules. Usually these corals are attached to rocks. The order contains six families, and 36 genera.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Alcyonacea." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Alcyonacea." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Alcyonacea.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Alcyonacea." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Alcyonacea.html |
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soft corals
soft corals See ALCYONACEA.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "soft corals." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "soft corals." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-softcorals.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "soft corals." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-softcorals.html |
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