I had a modern and brain and they died. We broke open the skeleton on the brain and found the below creature, could you please help me out in idetifying this creature, please help!
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Brian Boyer:
<strong>It's a Xenomorph! Where are the colonial marines when you need them?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Seen a few too many Aliens......huh.....
That looks like a species of boring clam. It was living inside the dead CaCO3 part of the coral most likely. These kinds of clams can be found bored into dead coral skeletons, live rock, etc.
That's a barnacle. See Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide, page 161. It is a Pyrgomatid barnacle. Harmless. The coral died of something, but the barnacle had nothing to do with it.
The poster asked Dr Ron this same question on his forum, Dr Ron said it looked like a burrowing clam to him. He also stated that they are harmless.
Steve
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Mouse:
<strong>Woa, i know its a shame to lose corals but thats no reason to castrate the guy who sold them to you. Oooh, i feel all tender.