strange ball of ????
 

I found this snorkeling in the Florida Keys.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1837/...a9e88516_c.jpg20180811_142928 by Ron Lindensmith, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/4...3b4246ff_c.jpg20180811_143001 by Ron Lindensmith, on Flickr



It was in shallow water (2') about 100' of a small island on the Florida Bay side of the chain. It is not hard or soft, but firm, much like a small cell sponge. But as far as I can see it has no incurrent or excurrent pores or holes. So I don't think it's a sponge. The spikes are firm but flexible and it doesn't move but it has attached itself to a rock in just 24 hours.

I've looked at a lot of sponge and algae ID photos online and through 3 ID books... nothing close to this was found.

Any ideas, or leads will be appreciated. A firm ID would be terrific, but I'm not expecting one. I have requests into a couple of Phd. Marine Biologists, but so far, no reply.

Thanks.

Very unique looking. Nice picture.

I found a pic of something that looks similar at the top of the Wet Web Media page on sponges but it's not tagged.

It looks like some kind of plant tuber that's been grazed down to nubs. See if it grows like a plant.

It dosen't look exactly like an immature horse chestnut seed pod. But close.

At you decided 100% if it is terrestrial or normally submerged?


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How large is it?

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Update?

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Lol, you have me curious. Any word on the green ball?

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Green ball...
 

A tunicate?

Its Kohlrabi