What was this thing?

[Dave-T]

I just spent several hours snorkeling in the Bahamas. I saw a few of this strange creature I couldn't identify. It was solid bright yellow. Maybe two inches across. I could see what appeared to be half a ring, but I’m not sure if it was ring shaped. It was segmented. If I waved at one with my finger, it would quickly retract.

It wasn't a Christmas tree worm. I know what those look like and saw plenty of them too. The visible part looked like a uniform segmented ring.

Very pretty. If they're reef safe and someone can figure out what it is, I'd consider adding to to my tank.

Can someone please help ID it?

 

[Rocks reef]

Do you have a picture of it?

 

[Dave-T]

No.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hard to id without a photo. Try and get one if you can!

 

[Dave-T]

Hard to id without a photo. Try and get one if you can!

Can't do it. I left. I was hoping the description would be enough. I’m not ignorant about inverts, but I have no idea what it was!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I could see what appeared to be half a ring, but I’m not sure if it was ring shaped. It was segmented. If I waved at one with my finger, it would quickly retract.

It wasn't a Christmas tree worm. I know what those look like and saw plenty of them too. The visible part looked like a uniform segmented ring.

Could you elaborate on this description a bit? Was it burrowed like a Christmas Tree Worm? Is this description of the entire body of the creature, or just a part?

If it was worm-like, my first thought would be a yellow sea cucumber, but I'm not sure how quick they would retract.

 

[Dave-T]

It was hard to tell. I think I saw 3 or 4 of them in hours and hours of snorkeling. They were each by themselves, and in a small crevice each time. The only part exposed was what appeared to be a segmented yellow ring. If I waved my finger at them, they retracted quickly. I couldn't tell what the hidden part was. The yellow segmented part was even, with each "segment" being a ring and all the rings were the same size. The yellow was very bright and striking.