Mr31415
01/19/2013, 01:01 PM
As I was busy poking around in my reef aquarium for things to photograph, I found these 8mm long structures attached to the inside glass panes, looking like small protrusions hanging out in the water column. Obviously I took one and placed it under the microscope. This is an absolute gorgeous animal, especially when I "turned on the lights" so to speak.
But I have no idea what it is! Any ID? I am sure it is a predator, it seems like the bulbous tentacles are used to catch prey? In one of the photos it is clear it had ingested a copepod.
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0427-Edit.jpg
4x, slightly cropped, BF
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0428-Edit.jpg
4x, slightly cropped, FLUO-C4
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0401.jpg
10x, DIC
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0459.jpg
10x, FLUO-C4, ingested copepod
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0453.jpg
20x, FLUO-C4, looks like tiny little light bulbs under UV/Blue excitation.
But I have no idea what it is! Any ID? I am sure it is a predator, it seems like the bulbous tentacles are used to catch prey? In one of the photos it is clear it had ingested a copepod.
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0427-Edit.jpg
4x, slightly cropped, BF
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0428-Edit.jpg
4x, slightly cropped, FLUO-C4
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0401.jpg
10x, DIC
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0459.jpg
10x, FLUO-C4, ingested copepod
http://www.waldonell.com/images/20130116-DSLR_IMG_0453.jpg
20x, FLUO-C4, looks like tiny little light bulbs under UV/Blue excitation.