Appreciate the help in identifying marine life

[Pickle]

As I look out the window and see the snow falling, I can

[Pianogrl]

Pickle.....this has helped me alot (think it came from forum member "liamsaunt")

www.reefguide.org

scroll down to the corals & sponges on the left; its a great site with lots of info. including tons of fish.

[California Girl]

Pickle, we saw some Elkhorn coral that had little thingies on it like the pink sponge, and Capt. Phil said that it was feeding. Maybe the sponge is feeding too?

[Pickle]

California Girl, are those bits something that the sponge may "produce while feeding"?

Pianogrl, I've been using the site for a while now - don't know how I missed this but I guess 2 are Warty Corallimorphs (?). They sure look like warts. Thanks.

[California Girl]

Pickle, this is a picture I took of the coral. I didn't manage to get very close, I think this may have been my first ever underwater photo!



See how the coral looks "fuzzy"... I think these little "polyps" sort of come out of the coral to feed... lips? tubes? I don't know. But Elkhorn doesn't usually look fuzzy, right? I think your sponge might have "lips" too.

(You know I'm going to be awfully mortified if someone comes along and knows what's really happening! )

[Pickle]

(You know I'm going to be awfully mortified if someone comes along and knows what's really happening! )

Don't worry, California Girl. We are not biologists. I do appreciate your insight regardless of whether you're right or wrong - and I know now what the corals are doing when they appear fuzzy.

My first thought regarding the sponge was perhaps some sort of reproductive process (?)... but, honestly, I really don't know.

[California Girl]

Now you've got me dying to know!