Hitchhiker on snail - identified Tunicate

[MNFish]

Seems to be something attached to snail... Any ideas?

 

[JGT]

Pics a bit blurry. Could be bubble algae. Does it move?

 

[MNFish]

 

[CMMorgan]

POKE IT!

 

[MNFish]

Pics a bit blurry. Could be bubble algae. Does it move?

It looks pretty solid.

 

[MNFish]

POKE IT!

I poked at it and it recoiled some like it was alive...

 

[MNFish]

 

[MNFish]

Could it be a Tunicate??

 

[JGT]

Yes. You should see it “ breath” through an intake and outake if it is.

 

[CMMorgan]

I was leaning toward sponge but maybe....

 

[MNFish]

I watched and did not see it moving...

 

[MNFish]

I was leaning toward sponge but maybe....

I was kind of thinking it may be a sponge but just looks strange...

 

[JGT]

I watched and did not see it moving...

Those look like it’s mouths. It won’t move constantly only periodically. It will intake water in one and exhaust it out the other. It’s how it gets food.

 

[JGT]

I was kind of thinking it may be a sponge but just looks strange...

Sponge won’t move. Tunicates will

 

[CMMorgan]

Those look like it’s mouths. It won’t move constantly only periodically. It will intake water in one and exhaust it out the other. It’s how it gets food.

Agreed @JGT It is not porous, so no sponge. Those do look like orifices.

 

[MNFish]

Sponge won’t move. Tunicates will

Cool, they are pretty ugly up close kind of looks like a tumor.... But I guess it's beneficial so I will leave it.

Thank you

 

[MNFish]

Agreed @JGT It is not porous, so no sponge. Those do look like orifices.

Thank you

 

[JGT]

Yes, filter feeder so a good guy. Plus it looks like him and the snail are buds.

 

[MNFish]

POKE IT!

I love this GIF by the way... Laughed pretty good.

 

[MNFish]

Yes, filter feeder so a good guy. Plus it looks like him and the snail are buds.

Right attached at the hip...