Worm or starfish?

robdog · Nov 18, 2022

Hello everyone

I have something on a rock living in a firecracker polyp. It is isolated to on particular rock sitting on the substrate. They appear to similar to how the legs of a micro brittle star wave around in the current but also wondering if it is some type of filter feeding worm. There are 4 of them sticking out and waving around.

So I'm a bit stumped about what this thing or things are. Any ideas?

blaxsun · Nov 18, 2022

Really can't tell from the images (sorry).

robdog · Nov 18, 2022

Cheers, here is some more that may help ID

robdog · Nov 18, 2022

You can see in the last photo how there are 3 legs coming out in the same spot and one leg further away, which is why I think it might be a brittle star

vetteguy53081 · Nov 18, 2022

robdog said:
Cheers, here is some more that may help ID

Definitely not legs of a star but may be a Priapulida worm which comes in with live rock such as Australian.

robdog · Nov 18, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Definitely not legs of a star but may be a Priapulida worm which comes in with live rock such as Australian.

Wow, how interesting. Thanks! Apparently there are 22 known species, it may be an unclassified species. They are on an isolated rock right now and are not.doing any harm, so will leave them be. Certainly a talking point for the moment, but hope they don't turn into the 39cm long variety

vetteguy53081 · Nov 18, 2022

robdog said:
Wow, how interesting. Thanks! Apparently there are 22 known species, it may be an unclassified species. They are on an isolated rock right now and are not.doing any harm, so will leave them be. Certainly a talking point for the moment, but hope they don't turn into the 39cm long variety

What makes them stand out is their shape representing a male organ. . . SMH