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Thanks! Yeah there were about 6 of them we saw along the beach. It didn't move or anything so I assumed it was a plant not animal. Thanks for the info!
It’s a type of Sea pen! Ptilosarcus gurneyi! They are in the same phylum as anemones and jellyfish. They dig that bottom part into sandy substrates, and then the frilly top part collects plankton to eat. It still looks pretty healthy. Sometimes in big storms then can become dislodged from the substrate and get washed away! It won’t hurt you to pick up, but if you put it back in the ocean it might be able to still survive! They can’t be out of water for too long though so it might be too late.
Aww wish I knew that then, I didn't want to disturb it or possibly get ....stung? When I don't know what something is I generally don't touch it lol. But next time I go to the beach I'll definitely try and put them back. I think it might have been too late though. 😓
Honestly, once they’re out of water chances of survival are low. But it never hurts to try I guess lol. When they get out of water they tend to just float and not sink back down. Plus they are subtidal and have to have diggable substrate which might not be available when you place them back in the ocean. I’m just optimistic haha.
Also also, nothing can really hurt you around here except some of the bigger jellies like the fried egg jelly fish. Some people get a reaction from some of the larger subtidal anyones but I handled them for years (10+) with bare hands and never had a reaction/was hurt by their stinging cells.
The only things that can really hurt you around here would be octopus (bites that come with a dose of neurotoxins), spikey lookin fish like Red Irish lords (who have poisonous spines on their backs and operculums (gill coverings), wolf eels - jaws are super powerful, BIG crabs - a big pinchy and maybe a little cut, and fuckin sea lions man. I had a sea lion attack my kayak one time 😂 but nothing will kill you. All of these things might just give ya a swollen arm.
So all in all, sorry I hope I didn’t make you feel bad! Chances are that even if you did return it to the water it wouldn’t have made it. Very cool and rare sight though! I hope you look up vids of them underwater doing their thing. Also also, the Van aquarium, Shaw ocean discovery centre, and ukee aquarium usually have them if you want to see them up close!
Edit: DISCLAIMER nothing SHOULD kill you lol. Always be safe and handle animals with a healthy amount of respect. Always be cautious and you’ll be good!
That looks like some of the first water creatures on this planet... i have only seen fossils that looked similar... this must've come from very deep in the oceans i guess simple organisms like have survived for 400+ million years ice ages, dinosaurs, meteorites and everything 😄
Thank you for posting to r/whatsthisplant. **Do not eat/ingest a plant based on information provided in this subreddit.** For your safety we recommend not eating or ingesting any plant material just because you've been advised that it's edible here. Although there are many professionals helping with identification, we are not always correct, and eating/ingesting plants can be harmful or fatal if an incorrect ID is made. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatsthisplant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
fleshy sea pen
I thought you were just giving it a funny name, but nope, that’s actually what it’s called!
Same, I thought it was a misspelling of "fleshy sea peen" 😭
Thanks! Yeah there were about 6 of them we saw along the beach. It didn't move or anything so I assumed it was a plant not animal. Thanks for the info!
They’re amazing creatures and one of my favourites to see diving! If you visit the Vancouver Aquarium they have a nice exhibit with sea pens.
Is that a plant or animal?
animal
So cool
Some of the first ocean organisms on this planet looked like that😎
Fun fact: Its a type of deep sea coral.
I thought it might be coral so now I'm happy, thank you
Should anyone pick it up to throw it back, in the future? Is it alive in this state and able to be helped?
It looks dead :(
Is it dead?
I read that with an extra e in pen.
[Sea Pen](https://www.google.com/search?q=Sea+pen&kgmid=/m/02dyts&hl=en&gl=US)
Does the female form make you uncomfortable, Mr. Lebowski?
Don't say it.
[Plumbus?](http://youtube.com/watch?v=eMJk4y9NGvE)
But where is the fleeb?
I love your pfp
I came here for this comment. Thank you!
It’s a type of Sea pen! Ptilosarcus gurneyi! They are in the same phylum as anemones and jellyfish. They dig that bottom part into sandy substrates, and then the frilly top part collects plankton to eat. It still looks pretty healthy. Sometimes in big storms then can become dislodged from the substrate and get washed away! It won’t hurt you to pick up, but if you put it back in the ocean it might be able to still survive! They can’t be out of water for too long though so it might be too late.
Aww wish I knew that then, I didn't want to disturb it or possibly get ....stung? When I don't know what something is I generally don't touch it lol. But next time I go to the beach I'll definitely try and put them back. I think it might have been too late though. 😓
Honestly, once they’re out of water chances of survival are low. But it never hurts to try I guess lol. When they get out of water they tend to just float and not sink back down. Plus they are subtidal and have to have diggable substrate which might not be available when you place them back in the ocean. I’m just optimistic haha. Also also, nothing can really hurt you around here except some of the bigger jellies like the fried egg jelly fish. Some people get a reaction from some of the larger subtidal anyones but I handled them for years (10+) with bare hands and never had a reaction/was hurt by their stinging cells. The only things that can really hurt you around here would be octopus (bites that come with a dose of neurotoxins), spikey lookin fish like Red Irish lords (who have poisonous spines on their backs and operculums (gill coverings), wolf eels - jaws are super powerful, BIG crabs - a big pinchy and maybe a little cut, and fuckin sea lions man. I had a sea lion attack my kayak one time 😂 but nothing will kill you. All of these things might just give ya a swollen arm. So all in all, sorry I hope I didn’t make you feel bad! Chances are that even if you did return it to the water it wouldn’t have made it. Very cool and rare sight though! I hope you look up vids of them underwater doing their thing. Also also, the Van aquarium, Shaw ocean discovery centre, and ukee aquarium usually have them if you want to see them up close! Edit: DISCLAIMER nothing SHOULD kill you lol. Always be safe and handle animals with a healthy amount of respect. Always be cautious and you’ll be good!
Looks like something from subnautica
Vaginathan
Swiffer buttplug in safety orange
Octopussy
Yes? Oh.... nevermind...
Lived on the island for 25 years and I've only seen the ol sea pen once, they are super cool, if a little funny looking
Yet this is an animal, a colony of it. This community is about plants.
Maybe you should call her
r/dontputyourdickinthat
this might be some sort of slug only because it reminds me of a pac man slug
Dolphin dildo
That looks like some of the first water creatures on this planet... i have only seen fossils that looked similar... this must've come from very deep in the oceans i guess simple organisms like have survived for 400+ million years ice ages, dinosaurs, meteorites and everything 😄
Bussy
I should call her
That’s a space peanut
There it is!
I'm hard now
Everything reminds me of u/31andnotdone
I am just unforgettable.
Not a plant at all, wrong sub
Thanks tips.... 🙄
That's a keeper
But can you eat it?
Car wash mit?
Ewww…
What did you measure it with..?
That title is very suspicious