Re: Okenia purpurata from Singapore with 3 gills?

Dear Ivan,

Thanks for the quick reply. It would have been very lucky if you had taken a photo that showed the food bryozoan in detail, but unfortunately not this time. In the photo alongside I have arrowed a couple of possible spirals which could indicate it is eating Amathia tortuosa, but it may just be wishful thinking on my part. Often you we will find animals apparently feeding on unidentifiable bare stalks. All this usually means is that the animals have already eaten all the polyps or zooids. In silty environments like yours, once the animals have died - or been eaten, there is nothing to stop silt and debris from building up over the bare stalks. The characteristic spiral arrangement of the zooids make it possible to identify the remains of an Amathia tortuosa colony in clean water, but I am afraid your silty water quickly hides any identifiable characteristics. Perhaps you can put this on your 'to do' list for when you next encounter this Okenia. In fact a closeup photo of the bryozoan of any Okenia you encounter would be valuable

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman