Invertebrates
Many animals have been found associating with Prionitis lanceolata as well. A brief survey revealed several mollusc egg cases, bryozoans, snails, and tunicates. Mug shots and further information below. Please report any suspicious behavior.
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Numerous egg cases were seen attached to P. lanceolata thalli. While a positive identification is difficult, they are believed to be snail egg cases. The entire case was several millimeters across. Each white dot is an individual larva, and snails lay many of them suspended in a jelly-like substance. The whole egg case is then attached to the blades of P. lanceolata. The larvae are fun to watch, as they are each turning in place in their designated spot in the jelly.
Several patches of the bryozoan Tubulipora were found on thalli* of P. lanceolata. Each patch of bryozoans is about 1-2 cm across and composed of many individual zooids living in calcareous boxes that they secrete around themselves. They suspension feed by extending their ciliated lophophores into the water. The lophophore creates a current, drawing food and nutrients through the cilia. The food caught on the cilia is then passed down toward the mouth.
A couple different snails were sighted creeping over Prionitis. The particularly small specimen (just a few millimeters) above is probably Lacuna. In the photo above right, note the large muscular foot (curled up in photo), the operculum behind it (covers the opening in the shell when the snail is retracted), cephalic tentacles, an eyespot.
The tunicate Diplosoma totally engulfs the branch of Prionitis, above left. Diplosoma is a compound tunicate, with many individual zooids sharing one common tunic. Each tunicate has a large pharyngeal basket with ciliated gill slits. They actively pull water in through the oral siphon and collect food particles on the mucus sheet lining the gill slits. The water (and fecal pellets) then leave through the atrial siphon. In Diplosoma, one large excurrent siphon is shared by several zooids.
Created by Alice Chiu, 2003. Images may be used with permission.