Order of the Black corals. The polyps secrete protein material, usually black in color that becomes extremely hard and strong by a tanning process. The polyps do not form corallites, but simply lives on the skeletal surface. Each polyp has six, small, non-retractable tentacles, that can expand or contract to some degree.
The following taxa of this order occur in the region:
Antipathes gracilis (Orange sea fan black coral)
Antipathes lenta (Hair net black coral)
Antipathes pennacea (Feather black coral)
Cirrhipathes leutkeni (Wire coral)