Hitchhiker on my snail!!

[saltnewb]

This one creeps me out a little bit. I circled this one to make it easier to see. When I look at it closely, looks like a couple hair thickness antennae that come out of it. When a hermit crab brushed by, it closed up like a bird beak and when it was safe, opened up again and the antennae came out again. It doesn't seem to move at all, just stays in the same spot all the time.

Thanks!

 

[Nihilus]

Barnacle. (harmless)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Agreed.

 

[saltnewb]

cool. i'm just glad they're harmless. thanks!

 

[Jofiel]

Awww, so cute!

 

[Maritimer]

They're filter-feeders - the "antennae" you see are feathery feet, which they use to kick food into their mouths.

They don't always live long in systems whose filtration is out-competing them, sadly . . .

~Bruce