ID this?

[Ron Reefman]

We found this in the Middle Keys (Florida) in 2' to 3' of water about 75' off the shore. It's attached very well to the underside of a length of metal bar that was laying in a grassy area but not far from some very shallow (1' to 2') areas with lots of stony finger coral and lots of small sponges. It is soft like lace and attached all across the base, not just in the center. We've done a fair amount of looking in our books and on the net, but haven't found anything close enough to call a match.

I posted this in the invert section and all I got was nudibranch eggs. I have serious doubts, but it could be. So I'm asking here because people here may have a wider range of experience with marine biology.

Any ideas?

 

[billsreef]

Eliminate your doubts, that is very classic nudibranch egg formation for a number of nudibranch species

 

[snorvich]

Eliminate your doubts, that is very classic nudibranch egg formation for a number of nudibranch species

Absolutely.

 

[pyithar]

pretty cool! now i know what a nudibranch egg looks like. thanks.

 

[snorvich]

pretty cool! now i know what a nudibranch egg looks like. thanks.

Plural. Lots of little guys emerge from that. Interesting fact. Nudibranchs are both male and female simultaneously. Interesting fact number two. Nudibranchs find significant others by sensing their chemical footprint. And to obviate the next possible question: you do need two to tango.

 

[Ron Reefman]

That seems to be the consensus. And after looking them up we agree. We do lots of shallows snorkeling and that was the first time I'd seen them.

Thanks to everybody who helped here.

 

[Saltliquid]

This may be interesting and there are many sites on nudibranch but these are the common ones we see here SEQ in Aus.
http://southeastqueenslandm.aforumf...worms-plakobranchidae-and-local-bubble-snails