Another annoying critter ID

[reefnjeff]

ok!!!! here we go, this guy is on my marshal island rock only, he has 4 legs or at least I think there legs could be arms too, aaaahh yea!!!!
anyways, they protrude out of tiny holes on the rock, there about 1/2 in lenth and are white with black circular stripes and all they do is......ummmmmmmmm!! nothing, but sway back n forth in the currant.

 

[reefnjeff]

did I say annoying... <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> I mean another technical positive identification requiring extensive knowledge and reef background from are friendly sharks..... <img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" />

 

[reefnjeff]

no!!! theses things never leave there hole, the only thing I have seen of them is those 4 arms

 

[beth]

I think I have noticed these same "legs" in a few places on my rock too. Its not mantis. They are very delicate and appear to just be extended out to perhaps catch food? Not sure. All I see are the foor legs, or tenticles or whatever it is. I probably wouldn't even notice it at all if I wasn't always giving my tank the once over with a magnifying glass.
I'd be interested in figuring out what this is too...I'll have to do a search in my reef critter book.

 

[reefnjeff]

I was thinking a star myself cus there legs, arms are very simular, but it leads me to a question, what happened to the fifth leg, arm.....lol I never see more or less than 4 sticking out of the rock. Ain't there a zebra serpant star thats white with these black stripes, why do they stay mashed in those tiny holes if they are stars??

 

[reefnjeff]

so this is there life style they never come out of there holes, then I also take it they remain very small, but again were is that fifth arm, not sure but can they be stars with only 4 arms

 

[piscesblue]

Kewl, I've got some of those. I've also seen a white brittle star that was smaller than a dime. He used to hangout inside my algae magnet with a buch of pods because I used it as a clip for tang food.

 

[reefnjeff]

thats the guy sammystringray...a brittle star, hmmmmm!! go figure, i'm still curious about its 5th arm I guess it uses it as an anchor to hold its self firmly in the hole....... another unknown bites the dust, good job sharks...

 

[cruises8]

I've got many of the white stars. There has to be atleast 75 to 100 of them. Some as big as a quarter(including legs), some smaller than a dime. Usually I just see the legs, but occasionally they'll come out. You would never even notice them unless you looked really close at the rock!

 

[cyn]

Ok, now I am curious if they ever come out? If they stay in the hole and keep eating, wont they get too big to get out? Sammy?
Just curious....
cyn