Should one suddenly approach these tube worms, they will suddenly retract into their tubes. As you might guess, these tightly packed worms clone. The tiny tubes measure less than 1 mm in diameter.
This polychaete worm was among many organisms brought up in a dredge from 60 m. depth, Monterey Bay. We are indebted to Dr. James Nybakken for providing the identification.
This limpet has detected the adjacent giant seastar chemically and is raising its protective mantle. Thus the predatory seastar's tube feet will be unable to adhere to the limpet. The limpet's excurrent keyhole is present on the dorsum. Depth 15 m. Subclass prosobranchia.
These tiny snails, about 2 mm, are virtually unknown as few recognize them hidden among grains of sand or on green algae as here. When one of its predators, the six-armed seastar Leptasterias pusilla approaches, the little snails flee while raising their beautiful protective mantle as this one is starting to do. We arranged this encounter in our lab.