Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California
Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz
Scott Creek, Santa Cruz Co., CA; 10 Dec 2008; 16mm total length.
Description: Ground color greyish-white. Tail with a narrow, median, opaque white line. The 4-8 opposite pairs of cerata have rather long branches, usually tipped with orange-red to brownish. Frontal veil bears 4 long, branched, tapered processes on a low, horseshoe-shaped ridge, 2 processes on either side of median line, medial pair longer, below this series may occur a variable number of small, less branched appendages. Rhinophores bear 12-14 lamellae. A short, simple process is directed obliquely upward midway on rhinophore shaft. Margin of rhinophores sheath bears 5 slender, tapered, branched processes. Clavus and distal half of the processes of rhinophore sheath usually orange-red to brownish, rarely opaque white.
Size: Typically about 20mm in length, but may exceed 35mm.
Notes: Feeds on hydroids such as: Abietinaria sp. & Thuiaria argentea.
Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey Co., CA; 27 May 2009; 24mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 7 May 2008; 28mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 7 May 2008; 28mm total length.
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 2 Aug 2008; 12mm total length.
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 2 Aug 2008; 12mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 25 May 2009; 15mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 10 Jan 2009; 10mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 10 Jan 2009; 10mm total length. Close-up of rhinophore.
Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey Co., CA; 27 May 2009; 17mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 25 May 2009; 26mm total length.