Science desk
< May 28	<< Apr \| May \| Jun >>	May 30 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Science Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 29

On the beach

I'm hoping someone with some knowledge of biology has a better idea than I do as to just what I've photographed here. - Jmabel | Talk 04:24, 29 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Someone with better knowledge of the area's geography might not have to read the description of the images, which I repeat here, adding links: "Sandy floor of Dumas Bay at low tide, near but not within Dumas Bay Sanctuary, Federal Way, Washington, U.S." So the bay is an arm of Puget Sound. --142.112.220.184 (talk) 04:55, 29 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Possibly they are closed up sea anemones, though they are more common on rocks. When submerged tentacles would come out. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 07:09, 29 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I hadn't thought of anemones. Plausible. Any other ideas? - Jmabel | Talk 02:40, 30 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Given the location (Puget Sound), my thought would be geoducks. Did you dig down a bit to see what was in there? Lots of burrowing animals will also leave similar hole patterns. --Jayron 32 14:29, 30 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

You're looking at a group of Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima) which are closed as they are exposed to air. Underwater they'll open and expose their tentactles a Graeme Bartlett mentioned 66.194.72.18 (talk) 17:35, 31 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Compare with this photo: Young sea anemones - Anthopleura elegantissima - Wikimedia Commons 66.194.72.18 (talk) 17:37, 31 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]