Broccoli coral (Alcyonium acaule)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Octocorallia · Order: Malacalcyonacea · Family: Alcyoniidae · Genus: Alcyonium.

Accepted name: Alcyonium acaule · Authority: Marion, 1878 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 125331.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Alcyonium brioniense Kükenthal, 1907; Alcyonium palmatum acaule Marion, 1878.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=125331 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Alcyonium acaule. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Habitat zone: sessile · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

SeaLifeBase notes: Known from infra- and circalittoral zones (Ref. 85338).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 139311) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Alcyonium-acaule.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,485 georeferenced occurrence records for Alcyonium acaule are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 41 distinct locations from a sample of 1,485 records, omitting 19 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: France (1,169); Spain (248); Portugal (27); Croatia (15); Algeria (10).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5185155) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5185155&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=125331 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Alcyonium acaule is a colonial coral forming clumps of yellow, pink, brown-red to brown-orange fleshy masses of finger-like lobes. The colony can reach a height of 20 cm. The colony's surface is entirely covered by whitish polyps from the base to the tips of the lobes. As with all soft corals, it relies on its hydrostatic skeleton to maintain its form.

This species is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, but its range extends slightly into the Atlantic Ocean along the Portuguese and Spanish Atlantic coasts. It is usually found between 12 and 135 m deep. Alcyonium acaule is a sciophilous animal that avoids direct light and prefers shaded areas such as overhangs or caves.

In the Mediterranean Sea, Alcyonium acaule frequently forms dense aggregations, often in association with the yellow cluster anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae). Other organisms in these biodiverse habitats include suspension feeders such as sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans and tunicates, and the rock is encrusted with coralline algae.

There is competition for space among these organisms. During a two-year research study, a number of small colonies of Alcyonium acaule disappeared, and overall colony growth was minimal. Many colonies reduced feeding activity during the summer, with up to ninety percent becoming dormant.

Source: Wikipedia: Alcyonium acaule — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcyonium_acaule (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.