WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Slimy Leather Coral

Sclerophytum flexibile

Also known as: Finger leather, Finger Leather Coral, Flexible Leather Coral, Formosan Soft Coral, Gold Leather Coral, Green Finger Coral, Indian Ocean Soft Coral, Knobby Leather Coral, Leather Coral, Octocoral, Rasta Leather Coral, Ruffled Leather Coral, Scolloped Leather Coral, Soft Finger Coral, Spaghetti Finger Leather Coral, Spaghetti Leather Coral, Thin Finger Coral, Sinularia flexibilis

Adult
@fishx6 · Lembeh, Indonesia · August 20081 / 4
01

Overview

Found in large colonies, attached to rubble, in areas of murky, shallow, surge zones, over reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs.

Most soft corals have no true skeleton and so their bodies are flexible.
Some soft corals have spikes very similar to rose thorns which may help to protect against predators.
Soft corals are food and shelter to many marine animals, some of which hide in the branches and take on the colouration of these corals.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
bushfingers

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found in large colonies, attached to rubble, in areas of murky, shallow, surge zones, over reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 4

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumCnidaria
    3. classOctocorallia
    4. orderMalacalcyonacea
    5. familySinulariidae
    6. genusSclerophytum
    7. speciesSclerophytum flexibile (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Malacalcyonacea