Attention all tropical marine invert folks. A high school marine science educator from Missouri posted the above photo on one of the education list serves I receive with the following call for assistance:
The two species I can identify on this image are clearly the purple sea fan (Gorgonia ventalina) and the two flamingo tongues (Cyphoma gibbosum) that are eating away at it.
What I am interested in are the three diminutive whitish purple things that are present near the Cyphomas. I have a feeling these are possibly simnias. Two are listed in Humann's Reef Creature Identification: the West Indian Simnia (Cymbovula acicularis), and the Single-Tooth Simnia (Simnia uniplicata).
Can anyone tell me if these are potentially either or these two species... or some other form of life altogether?
This photo was taken in five feet of water just off the Southern edge of Sirius Cay in the mouth of South Bight, South Andros Island in The Bahamas.
Any ideas from readers?
Attention all tropical marine invert folks. A high school marine science educator from Missouri posted the above photo on one of the education list serves I receive with the following call for assistance:
3 comments:
It looks to me like C. acicularis known to be excellent camo on the Gorgonias. My only other references to them besies the Humann book are of the larval form or empty shells. They have also been collected as larvae off Beaufort N.C. Maybe Kevin can find you a couple to grow out.
hmmm....seems my powers of marine critter identification don't extend past the fertilization envelope...sorry
You really are a very good observer!
Thank you for sharing!
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