Can Anyone Identify This Hitch Hiker

CDone · 11/01/2008, 06:56 AM

Noticed this creature on my rock, unfortunately its in an awkward spot to get a good photo of. It has shiny glassy hairs (spikes) radiating out from a center, I've also noticed tentacles sweeping out from it once in a while.

Here's a really poor photo, but you can see the hairs, spikes reflecting light.

Thanks
Colin

plateboy3293 · 11/01/2008, 01:41 PM

Maybe an apitasia or a feather duster.

CDone · 11/01/2008, 05:19 PM

Closest I can find is the Strawberry Worm (Eupolymnia Nebulosa)

But my rock is from Jakarta/Indonesia and these worms originate in the North Sea. Do other bristle worms have the long spines and tentacles seen here?

Colin

plateboy3293 · 11/01/2008, 10:09 PM

The pic is of a spaghetti worm

RicksReefs · 11/02/2008, 07:14 AM

barnacle.

CDone · 11/02/2008, 09:36 AM

Thanks guys, looks like I'm gonna pull that piece of rock anyways as a small forest of Red Hydroids has sprung up in the last 2 days, I'll try to reposition the rock so I can get a clearer view of whats in it.

Colin

Atarax · 11/02/2008, 02:11 PM

I have a number of those in my tank. one under a brain, and a few here and there. the rainbow colored hairs are very cool(if hard to see) but in the two or three years they've been there, there has been no ill side effects i can attribute to them. sorry i cant tell the name because i have yet to find a good ID for them myself.

RicksReefs · 11/02/2008, 03:18 PM

no, really. it's a barnacle.

http://www.mbayaq.org/video/video_ba...feeding_qt.asp

CDone · 11/02/2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RicksReefs
no, really. it's a barnacle.

http://www.mbayaq.org/video/video_ba...feeding_qt.asp

Do barnacles have tentacles? Honestly I've seen plenty of barnacles along the west coast of Vancouver Island, and this doesn't look like one, it seems to have a hole in the rock with these glassy hairs radiating out from it and then a couple tentacles that sweep out every so often. Once in a while it pokes its head out and it seems to be red in color.

I've turned the piece of rock to get a better view so I will try to post a couple more pics tonight.

Thanks
Colin

CDone · 11/02/2008, 07:00 PM

Heres a couple clearer shots, note the tentacles.

please disregard the Hydroid forest, they will soon be removed.

Colin

harleychic · 11/03/2008, 11:12 AM

+1 for barnacle

CDone · 11/03/2008, 06:07 PM

Okay, barnacle it is then.

Colin

Atarax · 11/29/2008, 06:57 PM

deffinitely not a barnacle. im looking at the one on my brain right now, it doesnt pulse in and out like a barnacle, does it? mine sure doesnt. it is some type of worm i am sure of it.

CDone · 11/29/2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atarax
deffinitely not a barnacle. im looking at the one on my brain right now, it doesnt pulse in and out like a barnacle, does it? mine sure doesnt. it is some type of worm i am sure of it.

Mine backs in and out from its hole in the rock, leaving a nice circular opening, wish I could get a really good photo of it.

rssjsb · 11/29/2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RicksReefs
barnacle.

Definitely a barnacle.

LeslieH · 12/01/2008, 09:17 PM

Definitely not.

It's a polychaete in the family Flabelligeridae. What you're seeing is the cephalic cage, a group of bristles near the head. Colin - those 2 "tentacles" you saw are the palps, feeding structures that string a web of mucus over the bristles & later remove the particles that get caught on the web. Some good pictures have been posted on RC. Do a search for flabelligerid, Pherusa or Piromis and you should be able to find them.

small alien · 12/02/2008, 05:38 PM

To barnacle or not to barnacle? That is the question.

CDone · 12/02/2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeslieH
Definitely not. It's a polychaete in the family Flabelligeridae. What you're seeing is the cephalic cage, a group of bristles near the head. Colin - those 2 "tentacles" you saw are the palps, feeding structures that string a web of mucus over the bristles & later remove the particles that get caught on the web. Some good pictures have been posted on RC. Do a search for flabelligerid, Pherusa or Piromis and you should be able to find them.

Thanks Leslie

Colin

rssjsb · 12/02/2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeslieH
Definitely not.

D'oh!

pagojoe · 12/03/2008, 07:17 AM

Welcome back Leslie!

LeslieH · 12/03/2008, 10:40 AM

11/01/2008, 06:56 AM	#1
CDone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 25	Can Anyone Identify This Hitch Hiker Noticed this creature on my rock, unfortunately its in an awkward spot to get a good photo of. It has shiny glassy hairs (spikes) radiating out from a center, I've also noticed tentacles sweeping out from it once in a while. Here's a really poor photo, but you can see the hairs, spikes reflecting light. Thanks Colin

11/01/2008, 01:41 PM	#2
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Maybe an apitasia or a feather duster. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

11/01/2008, 10:09 PM	#4
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	The pic is of a spaghetti worm __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

12/01/2008, 09:17 PM	#16
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Definitely not. It's a polychaete in the family Flabelligeridae. What you're seeing is the cephalic cage, a group of bristles near the head. Colin - those 2 "tentacles" you saw are the palps, feeding structures that string a web of mucus over the bristles & later remove the particles that get caught on the web. Some good pictures have been posted on RC. Do a search for flabelligerid, Pherusa or Piromis and you should be able to find them. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

12/02/2008, 05:38 PM	#17
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	To barnacle or not to barnacle? That is the question. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

11/01/2008, 05:19 PM	#3
CDone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 25	Closest I can find is the Strawberry Worm (Eupolymnia Nebulosa) But my rock is from Jakarta/Indonesia and these worms originate in the North Sea. Do other bristle worms have the long spines and tentacles seen here? Colin

11/02/2008, 07:14 AM	#5
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	barnacle.

11/02/2008, 09:36 AM	#6
CDone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 25	Thanks guys, looks like I'm gonna pull that piece of rock anyways as a small forest of Red Hydroids has sprung up in the last 2 days, I'll try to reposition the rock so I can get a clearer view of whats in it. Colin

11/02/2008, 02:11 PM	#7
Atarax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 103	I have a number of those in my tank. one under a brain, and a few here and there. the rainbow colored hairs are very cool(if hard to see) but in the two or three years they've been there, there has been no ill side effects i can attribute to them. sorry i cant tell the name because i have yet to find a good ID for them myself.

11/02/2008, 03:18 PM	#8
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	no, really. it's a barnacle. http://www.mbayaq.org/video/video_ba...feeding_qt.asp

11/02/2008, 07:00 PM	#10
CDone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 25	Heres a couple clearer shots, note the tentacles. please disregard the Hydroid forest, they will soon be removed. Colin

11/03/2008, 11:12 AM	#11
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	+1 for barnacle

11/03/2008, 06:07 PM	#12
CDone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 25	Okay, barnacle it is then. Colin

11/29/2008, 06:57 PM	#13
Atarax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 103	deffinitely not a barnacle. im looking at the one on my brain right now, it doesnt pulse in and out like a barnacle, does it? mine sure doesnt. it is some type of worm i am sure of it.

12/03/2008, 07:17 AM	#20
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Welcome back Leslie!

12/03/2008, 10:40 AM	#21
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	__________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County