Papery burnupena coverved with by a bryozoan.
Photos Johan Swanepoel
These photos sent in by Johan Swanepoel from Port Elizabeth caused some confusion regarding the species of shell and what is living on it. According to Prof. Branch, this is the papery burnupena (Burnupena papyracea) which is covered by the the nobbly bryozoan Alcynodium nodosum, which has the lophophores (used for feeding) extended. These give it the "fuzzy" appearance.
Both these species are known only to occur west of Agulhas (Namibia to Hermanus?), so this is either a range extension or an unknown, closely related, species.
For more details on this species, see "A field guide to the Marine Animals of the Cape Peninsula" available directly from SURG or better dive and book stores in Cape Town.
Thanks to Prof. George Branch for information.
A field guide to the Marine Animals of the Cape Peninsula, G Jones, 2008
Two Oceans, A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa, GM Branch, CL Griffiths, ML Branch and LE Beckley, 1994, Revised Edition 2010