Please Help ID.

Berlibee · Oct 27, 2016

Hello,

Please help to ID.

Found on the glass. Thanks.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 27, 2016

Oops. Went into the Lps forum.
# mods. Move?

Tahoe61 · Oct 27, 2016

I'll move this to Hitch-hiker forum. Unless you see a skeletal structure it's hard to nail down the unknown as a LPS. If it's on the glass I would be inclined to think it's a developing Aiptasia, but I would let others chime in.

Lionfish Lair · Oct 27, 2016

Ya, I agree it's more than likely a pest anemone of some description.

Berlibee · Oct 27, 2016

Ok thank you guys, it's already gone somewhere

Maybe I will see it again.

Myka · Oct 28, 2016

I do not think it is an anemone unless it is bigger than I think it is. It may be a trochophore or a veliger which is part of the larval stage of many critters like some snails, abalones, molluscs, urchins, etc. Trochophores and veligers may look much different from one species to the next. Here is the Abalone Life Cycle:

Lionfish Lair · Oct 28, 2016

I honestly don't think that's what it is, as they are much smaller than what we are seeing in the picture.

Berlibee · Oct 28, 2016

Thank you. It is about 2mm maybe size.

Myka · Oct 28, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
I honestly don't think that's what it is, as they are much smaller than what we are seeing in the picture.

I've worked with these larvae, they vary in size quite a lot from one species to the next, for example some jellyfish are around 5mm. His photo to me looks to be under 5 mm. Maybe it is bigger. Hopefully he can chime in with measurements. It could be something like a hydroid larva if it is larger.

Myka · Oct 28, 2016

oops, I was typing when you replied.

Berlibee said:
Thank you. It is about 2mm maybe size.

Excellent. I'll stick to my first guess - trochophore or veliger.

Lionfish Lair · Oct 28, 2016

I'm still rolling with anemone... LOL!

Myka · Oct 28, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
I'm still rolling with anemone... LOL!

My option is way cooler sounding.

Really, there are many "things" that little polyp could be as there are lots of critters that look like that which are around 2mm in size. A biologist studying plankton may be able to give a better ID, but even then he'd have to be familiar with this specific larva.