•1 min read•from Marine Biology Subreddit
What are these? (Intertidal, Malaysia)
Our take
In an intriguing discovery from the intertidal zone of Malaysia, a collection of unusual creatures was found clinging to the underside of a sponge. These enigmatic beings remained anchored in place, exhibiting a twitching or "ticking" motion. Initial assessments ruled out common marine pods like isopods, copepods, and amphipods. While the possibility of them being ostracods or triops was considered, their morphology raises questions.
| | These creatures were found attached to the underside of a piece of sponge in an intertidal area in Malaysia. As far as we could tell they were anchored, don't change their position but they appeared to be twitching or "ticking". I've ruled out the pods (isopods, copepods and amphipods). At first I thought ostracods but they don't have that forked tail. I thought maybe triops but I've read those are freshwater. My next best guess would be clam shrimps or something in that Branchiopod clade but I'm very unfamiliar with their morphology. Or maybe the juvenile stage of something? Anyone know what these are? [link] [comments] |
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience