Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Finger leather coral
Size:
On average, these corals grow 0.2 inches (0.5 centimeters) a year.
Diet:
Using their polyps, finger leather corals filter organic compounds and small marine organisms from the water in their environment. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
Finger leather corals exist in the Tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, inhabiting shallow, clear waters.
Details:
Finger leather corals vary in color from shades of pink and brown to white and gold. They grow from a single base in a mushroom-like shape with a thick stalk and cap on top.