Clathrus archeri

Seastar Stinkhorn at Jarramlee Pond

Clathrus archeri at Jarramlee Pond - 10 Feb 2024
Clathrus archeri at Jarramlee Pond - 10 Feb 2024
Clathrus archeri at Jarramlee Pond - 10 Feb 2024
Clathrus archeri at Jarramlee Pond - 10 Feb 2024
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Identification history

Clathrus archeri 19 Feb 2024 Heino1
Aseroe rubra 16 Feb 2024 Csteele4
Clathrus archeri 15 Feb 2024 johnpugh

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User's notes

Withered away during daytime after it was originally found. It was certainly attracting small flies. New ones have started to develop in close proximity to original find.

7 comments

Pam wrote:
   16 Feb 2024
Unusual split ends to the 'arms' for a Clathrus!! Has the look of an Aseroe rubra....
Csteele4 wrote:
   16 Feb 2024
@Pam thanks Pam, I viewed this when I was in the bush and only saw the first two photos, didn't realise there were more. You're 100% correct, this is Aseroe rubra.
Pam wrote:
   16 Feb 2024
I can appreciate your identification. At first I thought the same thing! Must admit this specimen does seem to have unusually long arms before the split ends. Almost like it's a cross between the two species!!;)
Csteele4 wrote:
   16 Feb 2024
@Pam more proof that these are alien beings! 😉
johnpugh wrote:
   16 Feb 2024
Thanks for the help in the identification. It can be confusing as some of the specimens at the same location do not have the branched "limbs" whilst others do. For some reason the organism seems to be very localised but associated underneath bushes. Our landcare group spread some mulch a few years ago at the location but same batch of mulch was also used in other areas and the organism is not apparent at any other location. To call this lifeform weird is an understatement.
Heino1 wrote:
   19 Feb 2024
I reckon it's Clathrus. Most of the spore slime has gone but you can still see some remnants well out along the arms. That is a feature of Clathrus, whereas in Aseroe the spore slime is confined to the central area. CNM has had some other sightings of Clathrus with the ends of the arms split. I assume that, as with any organism, things can sometimes go awry during development and that the signals controlling arm development are more susceptible to disruption than those controlling the place of spore formation.
Pam wrote:
   19 Feb 2024
Thanks for that Heino. Lesson, to look at the whole organism!! It would be interesting to do some DNA work on these to see if there is more going on here............

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