ID on Interesting Growth.

[tosiek]

Picked up this interesting growth on a rock this weekend at Jasons. Thought i would share as i haven't seen anything like it anywhere. And i'm a stickler for interesting wierd things to put into my tank. I'm getting my tripod for my camera this weekend so hopefully i can take better macro shots that aren't freehanded.

Pics don't do it justice. The amount of different layers of growth patterns on it is amazing. The dark spots are where it opens and closes filtering the water, on the inside of the mouths there are gill shaped filters and its sensitive to touch. Little bump by a snail makes them close up but I haven't noticed it sensitive to light changes at all.

I'm guessing its some sort of sponge but i'm a newbie. If anyone knows what it is any ID's are welcome \

Edit: fixed the photo's so they aren't as white.

 

[reefman]

that actually look like closed pink button polyps. very nice piece.

 

[inline6]

Not all button polyps have the appearance to be open, and yet they are open.
Usually they have obvious connecting tissue, but I have never seen connecting tissue like that before. Let me do some research...

Ditto on the button polyps - that's my guess.

Awesome piece.

 

[tosiek]

Yeah it does look like closed polyps but if ya could look at it close (and i could get a better pic) its more of a spongy mass for the round nodes and not a definative skin that make up the round polyp looking things. Also everything is linked together in the pattern.

Gonna try to get a better pic.

 

[prattreef]

It is either a sponge or tunicates.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

looks like:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=106612&hl=tunicates

 

[tosiek]

Thanks Scarf =0) thats it.