USVI-On-Line

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

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.

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?

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.

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! )

California Girl wrote:(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.

Now you've got me dying to know!