Special Request:: HITCHHIKERS

[Anonymous]

RDO is getting ready to overhaul its hitchhikers guide, and we need photos!!!! If you ever got something attached to a rock, from a weird tunicate to the lowly aiptasia or majano, we'd like photos.

A couple of rough guidelines:

• 
  o Please make sure your photos are in focus. Since this is basically for scientific identification, we need the clearest, cleanest photos we can get.
  o If at all possible, a scale of some sort would be good. If the hitchhiker is easily accessible in your tank, just stick a plastic ruler next to it or something.
  o ID. If you have a good idea what it is, great! If you're clueless, that's alright, too; we've got people around that are gurus at IDing critters.
  o Lighting. Sometimes animals look different under different lighting. If you have the ability to get shots under MH and VHO, get 'em both.

Ideas, thoughts, etc. ...

• 
  o Same animal, different looks? If you've got 2 aiptasia and they look different, shoot them both and submit the photos.
  o This is not like one of the contests. If you've got a dozen good shots of hitchhikers, post them all.
  o We need photos of good and bad hitchhikers.
  o Please do not put any watermark, photo credit, border, or anything else on the photo. If we use your photo in the hitchhikers guide, you WILL receive photo credit with the image.

Look back to this post as we go along...I'll add edits below the big line as we refine our search and concepts.

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[teevee]

I believe this animal is a Stylocheilus striatus (sea hare). Harmless algae-eater. Unfortunately I haven't seen it since these photos were taken about nine months ago.

I have photos of chitons, tunicates, echinoderms, nudibranchs, etc., unfortunately the quality is inadequate for your purposes. If I can get a good shot of my chitons (I saw one last night), I will post it.

 

[Christyf5]

I have no idea how I got this one. Didn't pay for him so he must have been a hitchhiker. I caught him on my zoos. I wasn't taking the chance so now he's living in the sump.

Christy
_________________
gmac bailout

 

[Anonymous]

Just your average ordinary aiptasia.

 

[spoonhandler]

These aren't great - feel free to use or reject.

 

[spoonhandler]

Photos of ascidians (tunicates, sea squirts). In one of them, you can see what looks like the filter apparatus in the 'pharynx', I think.

 

[spoonhandler]

Miscellaneous critters. The Echiuran (bonellia sp.) or spoon worm can extend for many inches from its hole (in LR) and the anchor-shaped end can spread out to collect food particles off rock and sand. Food is shipped back along the stalk. Very elastic and elusive creature. Thanks again to John Brandt for IDing this creature formerly known only as the Green Thing.

 

[spoonhandler]

Possible decorator crab. Observed picking at sponges and then 'scratching' itself, possibly placing bits of sponge on the carapace. Sits very still - not easily scared off. Less than 1.5cm long.

 

[spoonhandler]

Some mystery corals. The Duncanopsammia was discovered amongst LR rubble, barely recognisable. Has since recovered and is growing well thanks to lots of TLC, but as shown in the pic, had suffered massive tissue loss due to lack of food and light.

The soft coral mat is a mystery to me. Could be zooanthids - the polyps are very small. Definitely needs light - this was also in decline and rescued from the LR rubble bin. Each polyp has a distinctly green centre, but is less than a millimetre in diameter. Any suggestions on what this is would be greatly appreciated.

 

[spoonhandler]

Another mystery LR hitchhiker - could be star polyps, but I'm not sure. They are emerald green under actinic lights and can retract from sight (usually do once the lights are out, but sometimes stay that way during the day). Any ideas?

 

[spoonhandler]

Polychaete worms. If anyone recognises the host coral for the Christmas Tree Worms (see in background) please let me know what it might be.

 

[spoonhandler]

Last but not least, the Mantis Shrimp. Monty seemed the most appropriate name because those eyes look as if they came straight from a Gilliam animation. This was the first glimpse I had of him, so I thought this would represent what some others might see for the first time ("What the...?")

Also included two pics of Trochus snails - not really a hitchhiker in my case, but interesting anyway.

As I said, please use whatever seems helpful for others. Apologies for the mass postings.

 

[Mihai]

A Madracis sp. coral (came with Caribbean live rock).

 

[Anonymous]

Stomatella species snail. Someone else said they didn't think stomatellas had the frills though, and speculated about it being an abalone. I can't see any holes in the shell, though.

Is this pic good enough? I've been trying to get good shots of these things, but it ain't easy ... let me know if the pic is too crappy and I can upload a new one.

 

[sokol1312]

Some mystery corals. The Duncanopsammia was discovered amongst LR rubble, barely recognisable. Has since recovered and is growing well thanks to lots of TLC, but as shown in the pic, had suffered massive tissue loss due to lack of food and light.

The soft coral mat is a mystery to me. Could be zooanthids - the polyps are very small. Definitely needs light - this was also in decline and rescued from the LR rubble bin. Each polyp has a distinctly green centre, but is less than a millimetre in diameter. Any suggestions on what this is would be greatly appreciated.

galaxia i think

 

[sokol1312]

Another mystery LR hitchhiker - could be star polyps, but I'm not sure. They are emerald green under actinic lights and can retract from sight (usually do once the lights are out, but sometimes stay that way during the day). Any ideas?

it is anthelia or waving hand polyp

 

[samw]

Sea Slug or Nudibranch

 

[samw]

Sea Slug or Nudibranch

 

[tangir1]

two rice snails preying on an oyster at night.

 

[tangir1]

baby father duster