Mucus Net Question

[HWCOZ]

I am so confused! When I read about the mucus nets, I had envisioned them as a bed of mucus across the surface of the coral into which the food imbedded and was swept into the mouth. Then I got some propagated leathers and whoa! Long elastic nets (feather-like in appearance)several inches long that can be reeled in.

But then this week we discussed the Ctenophores having elastic feeding filaments. There's no way these propagated softies all have hitch hikers, is there?

 

[jamesw]

Yes, there is. That's exactly what they are.

Cheers
James

 

[Eric Borneman]

I would have to agree with James...sounds like ctenophore to me, too. The mucus of soft corals is not often used in webs that can be retracted...this seems to be used by stony corals mostly...like Turbinaria..and the feathery description is almost a dead give-away.

Eric