LFS employee told me this was "a soft coral. Maybe leather." It did kind of look soft under the lighting they had on so I listened to what she said. When I got home I found out it is as hard as rock and rough. I don't know why she didn't say something when she bagged it for me. I can't find anything like this online. I have never seen any extension or movement. It was bright white when I bought it. Only now that there is some algae, can I even see the spots/pores.