Green Finger Leather

Green Finger Leather

3. Full Description

Green Finger Leather, Sinularia spp. and related species, is a branching soft coral prized for its upright finger-like growth form, textured surface, and attractive green coloration. This specimen displays pale green to yellow-green tissue across a branching colony with numerous small polyps distributed over the surface.

Finger leather corals in the genus Sinularia do not build a hard calcium carbonate skeleton like stony corals. Instead, their structure is supported by fleshy tissue reinforced with microscopic calcium carbonate elements called sclerites. This gives the colony a flexible but durable form that can sway gently with aquarium water movement.

The branching structure of Green Finger Leather creates a strong vertical shape in a reef display. As the coral grows, individual lobes and finger-like branches may elongate and divide, producing a fuller, more complex colony. Under suitable reef aquarium lighting, the green coloration can become especially noticeable against darker rockwork.

Sinularia species contain symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates that provide much of their nutritional energy. They can also absorb dissolved nutrients and capture very small suspended particles from the water. Stable water chemistry, moderate lighting, and moderate variable water movement generally support healthy growth, polyp extension, and coloration.

Like many leather corals, Sinularia may periodically shed a thin surface layer. During this natural process, the colony may remain closed or appear glossy for a period of time before reopening. Moderate water movement helps remove this shed layer and keeps the coral surface clean.

Because multiple Sinularia species can share very similar branching growth forms and coloration, exact species identification cannot be made reliably from appearance alone. For this specimen, Sinularia spp. and related species is the most appropriate scientific identification.

Care Guide:

Scientific Identification: Sinularia spp. and related species
Common Name: Finger Leather Coral
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Lighting: Moderate
Water Flow: Moderate, indirect and variable
Placement: Middle areas of the aquarium, with adjustment based on lighting intensity and flow
Temperament: Semi-aggressive; provide room from neighboring corals
Reef Compatibility: Reef safe with appropriate spacing
Feeding: Primarily photosynthetic; may also absorb dissolved nutrients and capture very small suspended planktonic particles
Growth Form: Branching, finger-like fleshy soft coral colony supported by internal sclerites
Water Parameters: Maintain stable reef aquarium temperature and salinity with reasonably stable alkalinity and nutrient levels. Avoid rapid swings in water chemistry.
Special Considerations: Finger leather corals may periodically shed a thin waxy surface layer. Moderate variable water movement helps remove this layer and encourages normal polyp extension. Provide adequate spacing because leather corals can grow rapidly and may release chemical compounds that affect nearby corals. Activated carbon and regular water changes can help reduce chemical interactions in mixed reef aquariums.