Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2023 May 29

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May 29

On the beach

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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)

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)

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)

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

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. --Jayron32 14:29, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

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)

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