This was fairly common in beach drift on Margarita Island during my Labor
Day w/e trip. Looks like Olivella minuta is a frequent foundation for this
colony.
David Kirsh
> From: "Thomas E. Eichhorst" <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 14:12:16 -0600
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Mystery item
>
> Those look like a species of Hippoporidra, a bryozoan colony that builds its
> structure on a small gastropod shell. The shell is often then inhabited by
> a hermit crab.
>
> Tom E.
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