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View Full Version : Possibly a Hydrozoan?


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.

SushiGirl
01/19/2013, 07:53 PM
Since my eyes don't magnify that much, I couldn't tell you what it is from that much of a closeup LOL. Based on the structure, it could be.