Any biologists out there that can identify this?

[CanonRay]

Can anyone identify this? The cups are about 9.5mm wide and 17mm deep. Found on a twig on the ground near the Pacific ocean.

http://imgur.com/xqyuIGS

[tk2kewl]

1. maybe birds nest fungus

http://www.herbarium.iastate.edu/fungi/fungispecies.php?sp=Cyathus+stercorius+%28Schw.%29+deToni

[tridim]

2. Barnacles?

http://www.google.com/search?q=barnacles&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=A0a3Ua_JO8WF8gG03YDwCA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1463&bih=867

[mike_c]

3. looks like an ascomycete cup fungus of some sort....

Last edited Tue Jun 11, 2013, 12:33 PM - Edit history (1)

edit: Yep, tk2kewl nailed it. It's bird's nest fungus, an ascomycete in the Nidulariaceae.

[kestrel91316]

4. I was guessing some sort of fungus, and was going to refer the poster to you.

You ALWAYS know these things!

[CanonRay]

5. Thanks to all!

I knew there were people on here way smarter than myself!