Critter ID? Anyone know.

[JFS]

Saw this the other day. Anyone have a clue what it is?

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Got me? That is the great thing about Cozumel diving—after thousands of dives there I frequently see thing for the first time.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[sharky60]

I believe it's called a Lion's tongue. It's part of the Sea Cucumber family. I've never seen one that small, but by the coloring & markings, I think that is what it is.

 

[JFS]

I watched it for a few minutes. It was like an elephant's trunk. Bizarre looking and a first for me.

 

[agilis]

It looks to me like the siphon or 'pistol' of a burrowing gastropod.

 

[ggunn]

I'm not gonna say what it looks like to me, but that horse isn't Jewish.

 

[agilis]

I'm not gonna say what it looks like to me, but that horse isn't Jewish.

Exactly why gastropod siphons are regarded as an aphrodisiac in many places.

 

[sharky60]

This is a pic I took of a Lion's Tongue in 2005. This was about 3' long.

 

[agilis]

View attachment 367599 This is a pic I took of a Lion's Tongue in 2005. This was about 3' long.

Very different from that soft exploratory segment coming up from the sand.

 

[Queen Triggerfish]

The picture two up from here (Sharky60's) - I think that's a "Tiger Tail," a type of sea cucumber. I don't have my Creature book with me though.

Don't know the original though.