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Unread 08/13/2018, 09:18 AM   #1
Ron Reefman
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strange ball of ????

I found this snorkeling in the Florida Keys.

20180811_142928 by Ron Lindensmith, on Flickr

20180811_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.


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Unread 08/13/2018, 05:12 PM   #2
Subsea
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Very unique looking. Nice picture.


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Unread 08/14/2018, 03:05 PM   #3
smootie
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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.


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Unread 08/14/2018, 09:00 PM   #4
Michael Hoaster
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It looks like some kind of plant tuber that's been grazed down to nubs. See if it grows like a plant.


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Unread 08/18/2018, 10:15 PM   #5
norfolkgarden
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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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Unread 08/18/2018, 10:33 PM   #6
Sorcha2
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How large is it?

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Unread 08/23/2018, 06:21 AM   #7
norfolkgarden
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Update?

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Unread 08/25/2018, 05:38 AM   #8
norfolkgarden
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Lol, you have me curious. Any word on the green ball?

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Unread 04/28/2020, 10:02 PM   #9
chuck3
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Green ball...

A tunicate?


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Unread 05/23/2020, 06:00 PM   #10
gprdypoo04
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Its Kohlrabi


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