Gilmer

Trach, you’re very close on the name, but the name is English, not Russian.

But what are they?

SoberLeigh

Stentor?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File...site_image.jpg

trachemys

I forget where I am.

Gilmer

Yes, Leigh! They’re stentors!

They are one of the largest one-celled animals! Some can grow to a length of two millimeters!

SoberLeigh

They are very cool little things. I’m not sure I will ever look at fluted stemware the same way again!

Gilmer

Lol!

SoberLeigh

Any ideas?

Gilmer

A dinosaur fossil?

biminiblue

That's a turtle track in the sand!

trachemys

^^^What she said. I see tracks in and tracks out. There's been egg-layin' goin' on!

SoberLeigh

Yes, it is a leatherback turtle nesting crawl track!

Well done, him and trachs!

SoberLeigh

Here is another for your viewing pleasure.

Pretty cool.

trachemys

Very cool.

Down in the Gulf of Mexico, where my family has vacationed for decades, there are turtle nesting sites. The sites are roped off and it's a felony to disturb them. If your timing's right, you can see the mother's tracks and if the gods grace you, you can see the kids' tracks.

Ever seen a baby sea turtle? They are adorable.

SoberLeigh

I have seen fresh water turtles nesting but I have never had the joy of seeing a baby.

I have seen nesting crawl tracks and also roped off areas on the beach.

Lighting on the beach area during nesting season is restricted as to type, wattage, etc. Even beachfront homeowners are asked to comply with certain nighttime lighting standards.

SoberLeigh

Any guesses?

trachemys

Diatom

SoberLeigh

Not a diatom although diatoms are visually similar.

courage2

I think it's a snowflake -- not sure what the filaments are -- some kind of thing where they've landed?

SoberLeigh

Yes, it is a snowflake. I have no idea what the strands are but I will try to find out.

SoberLeigh

The image was taken utilizing macro photography. I am guessing that the strands are from background materials.https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4373888