Today I was diving with my buddy at Lagun in Curacao when we encountered this strange creature. My first guess when I saw it was that it is a chain of Pelagic Tunicates but on closer inspection I doubt it. The fuzzy thing in front seems to be the "head". The creature measures about 1 meter/yard. When swimming it looks streamlined but when in rest there are a lot of almost invisible tentacles which sting and which are speckled with tiny red dots.
This appears to be the Red-spotted Siphonophore according to Paul Humann in his book about Reef Creature Identification. In my almost 17 years of diving in Curacao I have never seen these.
Can anyone confirm the identification?
Tentacles invisible while swimming:
When in rest or disturbed the numerous tentacles are visible:
This appears to be the Red-spotted Siphonophore according to Paul Humann in his book about Reef Creature Identification. In my almost 17 years of diving in Curacao I have never seen these.
Can anyone confirm the identification?
Tentacles invisible while swimming:
When in rest or disturbed the numerous tentacles are visible: