Help identifying animal...

[bobc]

Unfortunately, I'm without a camera so I will do the best I can verbally for a description.

First, it has a pink hue, is about 7 - 8 inches long and about 1/2 - 3/4 inches diameter when not active. It has two distinct body sections. For clarity I will refer to one end as the "head" and the other as the "tail". The head has a "mouth" in the very end but no other distinguishing features. The head and tail are separated by what looks like a lighter color band and divides the animal roughly in half. The head will burrow into the sand up to the band. The tail will sometimes stand up straight and sometimes lay flat on the sand. The tail, when the head is burrowing, will swell and hundreds of "tentacles" about 3/4" to 1" long will sprout from the tail.
I was told this was a pink Hawaian sea cuke, but I have little faith in my LFS employee knowldege. Can anyone identify this animal?

Thanks,
Bob

[TroyF]

Bob, I can't help you directly but you could post this question on www.reefcentral.com in the ask Dr. Ron column if there is nobody who can answer you here. I'd be interested to hear the answer, it sounds like a fascinating creature!

Troy

[mini mee]

Hi bobc
Boy if I had a camera I would let you use it just to see a pic of this animal it sounds cool.

good luck on the ID
mini mee

No Kidding, if no one recognizes it here Ron Shimek is probably your best bet for an ID. If you do get an ID please link the post here, thanks

------------------
I thought I was me, but we were wrong
email: geeflipr@internetcds.com

[This message has been edited by geedoug (edited 01-19-2001).]

[TroyF]

PS: I forgot to mention, I have what I believe to be a pink Hawaiian cuke and your description isn't it.

Troy

[inlandreef]

That is nearly exactly like a type of sea pen that I saw at one of the local stores, and I trust these people for identification. But it's still just a guess.

[TroyF]

Good guess inland! Bob posted the question to Dr. Shimek and he was 80% sure it was a sea pen.

Troy