What's This???

[nc saltfan]

I got a leather coral 2 days ago and it had these flat looking things on it. The store owner said it was part of the coral but they've been moving around so I don't think they are. They each have a long thin white streamer it uses to collect food with. Any idea what they are? Are they bad for the coral?

 

[maxalmon]

I have no idea, but those are great photos!

 

[yosemite sam]

Coeloplana. I have a few on my yellow leather. They are harmless. They catch food with the long streamers they dangle out. Cool coloration, usually they are more camoflaged!

 

[bigarn]

Thanks Yosemite! I didn't have a clue ..... good to see you around more.

 

[wfd1008]

they're some sort of flat worm. i would get them out IMO. go with what yosemite sam said and google coelaplana, and then google flat worm and see what you can find about it and post back what you find. i would like to know for future info.

 

[yosemite sam]

Thanks Bigarn! Yeah, I've had a lot more free time recently, and it's nice to be around.
wfd1008, they are harmless. They are actually a relative of jelly fish. If you want an ID, check out page 81 of Julian Sprung's Invertebrates reference guide. There are some good photos there, as well. NC Saltfan's are some of the best I've seen, though. It's hard to get such good pictures, maybe the mods could add these to the hitch hiker thread.
Here's a quick shot of one of the little guys on my yellow leather. All you usually see is a little bump and closed polyps. I couldn't get the streamers to show up, either.

 

[wfd1008]

cool then.

 

[mscarpena]

Those are some of the coolest hitchhiker's I've seen in a long time. How come I always get bad things as hitchhikers. Man some guys get all the luck and some don't I guess.

 

[nc saltfan]

Ok cool, thanks for help yosemite. Glad to know their not dangerous. Just curious, how do they capture food without stinging cells?

 

[yosemite sam]

The streamers they throw out are apparently somewhat sticky, and when food particles hit them, they contract, ensnaring the food.