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[edit]

On the beach[edit]

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]