What Is It?

[neurotech]

It is oblong, black and soft. It is about 1/2" long, 1/4" wide, and has antennae. Could one of my black snails have left the shell? My wife says its a skate, but I don't know what they are. I found it on my orange sponge, and it left the sponge heading for rock when I handled the sponge.

 

[MaryHM]

Some kind of a nudibranch. If it was on a sponge, there's a good chance that it's a sponge eater.

 

[neurotech]

ok folks - I think it is soft and if I can find it again, I'll get a pic. I checked out the limpet link Mary and I think you got it. Now that I got it, what else do I need to know about this thing? What would you do if you had one? Thanks.

 

[neurotech]

Oops I mean Redneck - you got it. I don't wanna start something here.

 

[redneck]

My wild guess. A limpet. Scutus Unguis or Scutus antipodes.

http://www.seaslugforum.net/scutus.htm

Now Mary, as an importer, you should have gotten this one. We'll spank you later.

For pennance surf www.seaslugforum.net LOL!

I'll bet it came on your LR. They eat algae, and sponges.

[ January 02, 2002: Message edited by: Redneck Cowboy ]</p>

 

[MaryHM]

Would have guessed that, but his description said "soft" and indicated that it didn't have a shell. Man, pics sure are helpful in id-ing things!

 

[redneck]

Well, you did guess it may eat sponges as part of it's diet. (The mantle covers the shell, so it appears 'soft'.)

We'll skip the spanking this time.

My wife might get the wrong idea anyway...

[ January 02, 2002: Message edited by: Redneck Cowboy ]</p>

 

[neurotech]

So, what do I do with it? It's killing my sponge? Can I feed it to the anemone?