Picture of unknown filter feeder

[InvertLover]

This is attached to the bottom of a coral. The animal is about one inch long, very rough/tough to the touch, no movement other then closing two siphons ( I'm assuming thats what they are) Looks and feels almost like a piece of tree bark. The LFS employee tried to pull it off when I bought the coral, didn't want to give me a free hitchhiker until I objected to the rough treatment he was giving the coral.
the syphon is closed in this picture since I moved the coral. The syphons are not located near each other. Also, when the LFS employee pulled on it, it squirted out water. I doubt it was a defensive move other then shrinking a little. The brown object is the animal, the two tubes on the left are worms, and have attached since I added it.
Anyone know what i'm looking at?

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[InvertLover]

I know, it doesn't really stand out too much, but compared to the coral skeleton it really looks out of place. Almost like a tumor or something.

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I also just grabbed a picture of it with the syphons open.

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[venwu225]

tunicate

 

[InvertLover]

tunicate was my only guess, really odd looking one tho. Any more info? ( common in hobby, care if different from other tunicates, etc)

 

[1F2FRFBF]

I have something similar growing on the side of the rock my favia is on. They look almost like purple barnacles, and they retract momentarily when I shine a light on them. I've got a couple of those tiny white sponges there too.

 

[InvertLover]

They do indeed react to light. Kind of odd, i didn't know tunicates could do that.

from the other thread:
I have the exact same thing...in fact I have two of them. They are indeed tunicates (sea squirts). Mine came in as hitch-hikers on a ball sponge I got at my LFS. They are attached at the base of the rock the sponge is on. I didn't notice them at first because of the drab color, but I discovered them when I would see the sponge rock back and forth....upon further inspection I noticed the inhalent and exhalent siphons sticking out of the sides of the rock. When they are deflated they look like shriveled up prunes, but when they inflate they can get alot bigger and the siphons are more visable. They act like mini air bags under my sponge rocking back and forth every time they inflate/deflate because I just have the sponge sitting on some rockwork. They are harmless filter feeders, and the only harm I could see them doing is if you have the coral sitting loose up on some rockwork and the action of them inflating/deflating jars the coral from its position on the rock and sends it for a tumble. These tunicates aren't the typical small fragile translucent ones you find on live rock....when they squirt they pack a little punch. Cool critters though and they add to the biodiversity of the tank.