View Full Version : I thought these were fossils!
Motoxxx
03-05-2012, 02:39 PM
Found them in Cuba...they were smooth and pink underneath and still seemed very much alive!
Any idea what they are?
The Publisher
03-06-2012, 07:07 AM
They are Chitons
Charon
03-07-2012, 03:18 PM
Don't know if chitons are the same thing but I believe they are isopods. They are filter feeders and often attach to fish near the top of the head in the best water flow area to feed as the fish swim. They look like parasites but are only grabbing a ride.
The Publisher
03-08-2012, 04:38 AM
As a kid I used to see these by the hundreds.....prehistoric looking little buggers....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiton
http://reefguide.org/pix/thumb2/chiton4.jpg
Isopod, and a scary huge one at that! This is what my childhood nightmares looked like, lol
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Giant_isopod.jpg
Motoxxx
07-05-2012, 04:05 PM
WOW! Definitely NOT an Isopod! Most definitely a Chiton:)
They do look very prehistoric! So much that I thought they were initially fossils..till I pried one off and realized it was very much alive..then I felt bad, but lesson learned I guess.
Thanks for the identification!
Cheers