Umitosaka (sea cockscomb) - Umitosaka (English spelling) soft coral

Japanese: ウミトサカ(海鶏頭) - ウミトサカ（英語表記）soft coral

A general term for coelenterates (Cnidarians) belonging to the families Alcyoniidae and Nephtheidae of the Anthozoa classes. Many polyps with eight tentacles gather together to form colonies about 10 to 50 cm tall, but their bodies are fleshy and soft as they have no bony axis. Many of the colonies are beautifully colored, with red or yellow colors. Some polyps completely retract into the capsule, while others do not, and the coemulsions and polyps are lined with various small bone fragments.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

花虫綱ウミトサカ科Alcyoniidaeとチヂミトサカ科Nephtheidaeに属する腔腸動物(刺胞動物)の総称。8本の触手をもった多くのポリプが集まって高さ10～50cmくらいの群体をつくるが，体が多肉質で，骨軸をもたないので全体は軟らかい。群体は紅色や黄色で，色彩の美しいものが多い。ポリプが莢部（きようぶ）内に完全にひっこむものと，ひっこまないものとがあり，共肉とポリプには各種の小骨片が並んでいる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Paranthura japonica (English name)

>>: Umitengu (dragon fish)