What do I have here?

Pete polyp · Dec 6, 2015

From that picture it looks as if there's 8 segments. They're very different from the other chiton in the tank. The other chiton don't bail when the light comes on either. These also move faster then the other chiton in the tank other than another that's different but it's like 3"long

bozo · Dec 7, 2015

Why don't you send an email to your local university bio department? Someone there will definitely ID for you. I took an invert zoology class in college and I learned all about marine inverts. This looks dang familiar but I can't figure out the family name of it lol.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

Sorry about that. Found my 50g saltwater barrel overflowing from a failed switch. Now my saltwater is 1.010. Man! I live in California where this stuff is precious.

It moves fast?...... That's not chiton-like. You want to mail me some? I can get some pictures.

That "head" looks out of place, but I don't know the different stages of development for a chiton. Is there a point in some species where the head plate is not perfectly connected for awhile... I dunno. It is the same kind of shape the head plate should be.

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

Lionfish Lair said:
Sorry about that. Found my 50g saltwater barrel overflowing from a failed switch. Now my saltwater is 1.010. Man! I live in California where this stuff is precious.

It moves fast?...... That's not chiton-like. You want to mail me some? I can get some pictures.

That "head" looks out of place, but I don't know the different stages of development for a chiton. Is there a point in some species where the head plate is not perfectly connected for awhile... I dunno. It is the same kind of shape the head plate should be.

Sorry about the unfortunate incident. No worries here. It doesn't move fast like a pod or anything. From what I have seen chiton move about the same speed as an asteria snail and these are moving quite a bit faster. Another thing that puzzles me is that they bail when the light comes on. With the chiton in the tank they will return into the rock but not just bail off in the current like these. Maybe they are some juvenile chiton or something.

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

Another thing..... I didn't realize until last night that my new powerheads were on the timed outlet with my lights. So when the lights went out the only flow in the tank was the return pump. But even only using a flashlight made them scatter. They would let go of the glass and gently float to the bottom of the tank. Now when the powerheads came on they would float ask over the place in the current.

I don't believe these are predatory because I have not seen any on the corals. And even though this tank had been nicknamed "death row" it has always had another explanation besides parasites.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

Chitons should not scatter with light..... If you feel something doesn't match with the chitons, I bet you are right. It's sounding less and less like chitons.

I'm going to try and pull the photos up on the TV, if I can figure that out. Maybe I can see more detail.

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

I think my chiton and nudibranch spawned lol. I will break out the dslr tonight and get some better pictures for us.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

I would LOVE that! I'm wondering if it's an isopod. It's the back end that reminds me of them and it would explain the segments we were thinking were chiton plates. The common ones don't have separate heads like your does, though. Isopod innards also have that double line that is going down through the body....

I love a good chase.....

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

Is it possible these are newly hatches nassarius?

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

I'm not sure. The one side I swear you can almost see a snail mouth.....

It would account for the "leg" placement.... which isn't like an isopod's placement.

It has features that says it's one thing and then features that rules it out being that thing. Can't wait to see the new pics.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

GOT IT!

It's a sand skater.... a type of Sphaeromatid .

I'd bet monopoly money on it being this one......

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

I would still LOVE some photos. I don't have any pictures of these guys.

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

http://melevsreef.com/node/423

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

OK, I have to admit I did an endzone dance with this one.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 7, 2015

You're still gonna whip out your SLR, right? :-) LOL

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

Lionfish Lair said:
OK, I have to admit I did an endzone dance with this one.

You deserved to. You worked hard to figure this one out.

Lionfish Lair said:
You're still gonna whip out your SLR, right? :-) LOL

Yep. I'm even going to turn the powerheads off to make sure they show up tonight

Pete polyp · Dec 7, 2015

Fwiw @Lionfish Lair you could have a field day looking in my tank. My rock has an insane amount of life in it. There's several things in there that I can't identify or catch on film lol.