Mystery from Westernport Bay, Australia
April 3, 2002
From: Terry & Angela Bromley
Hi.
Maybe some-one can help.
Date : 1 April 2002.
Westernport Bay, Victoria, Australia.
Reef bottom - depth about 8 metres.
White elongated end w. white "fingers" around the edge.Very close together.They tend to move, but only slowly. Bright orange stem to it. Orange bottom expands & contracts til it can bed the orange bit in the sand, & in effect "stand up." The object feels spongy. Overnight this thing increased in size quite considerably, but once the tank light went on it contracted back to the original size. Several times we have had these things come up on the fishing line.
Love to hear from any-one who can help.
Angela & Terry Bromley.
Phillip Island,
Australia.
angela1@pocketmail.com.au
Bromley, T. & A., 2002 (Apr 3) Mystery from Westernport Bay, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6660Dear Terry & Angela,
Identifying mystery objects without a photo or sketch is quite difficult. I think your animal may be a Wandering Sea Anemone. Have a look at the photo on that page. It certainly changes size quite considerably, has fingerlike-like tentacles at one end and at the other end, it has a disc-like 'foot' which attaches to sea weed, rock or other hard surface. It can expand, as you describe, in sand to form a temporary anchor.
Let me know if I've guessed correctly,
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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