ID: this nudi type thing

[Lunchbucket]

ok doing a buddy a favor as he has this "thing" in his tank.

said this was on his green star polyps or on a rock close to them. he said it also looks almost like a section of green star polyps.

we are figuring that if i looks like them it prolly is a predator trying to blend in to eat them.

sorry for the bad pics...he took them

anyone have an idea??
Lunchbucket

 

[Lunchbucket]

what about
phyllodesmium briareum???

pictured in Sprungs inverts book pg 95. says it eats briareum

this genus includes species that feed exclusively on soft corals. incorperates zooxanthellae from thier prey into thier tissues. most don't cause too much harm, but in large numbers they could

anyone??

Lunchbucket

 

[LeslieH]

Yes, it is a Phyllodesmium but your picture isnÃ"šÃ‚´t good enough to do species, and the info is correct too. The amount of soft corals it will eat correlates with the amount of zooxanthellae in the nudibranch and how well theyÃ"šÃ‚´re meeting the nudiÃ"šÃ‚´s nutritional needs. It has the potential to do a lot of damage so if your friend wants to keep it he needs to watch it carefully....or buy some more polyps!

 

[Lunchbucket]

Leslie - thanks for the help! yeah that pic sucks sorry

Lunchbucket