Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California

Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz

Description: Ground color translucent greyish-white. A narrow, opaque white line extends longitudinally from tip of each oral tentacle, along its mid-dorsal surface to its base, where the two unite and pass posteriorly, mid-dorsally to tip of tail; similar lines extend longitudinally on either side of body, just ventral of cerata, from first row of cerata to just posterior of last row of cerata, where they unite with the median white line. Cerata in 6-8 transverse rows, cores usually red-orange, but quite variable, may be yellow to orange, cerata tips lighter, often white. Oral tentacles with yellow to deep cadmium orange on distal half in most specimens. Rhinophores colored as oral tentacles, with 7-10 complete annuli which alternate with more or less incomplete annuli which occur on posterior face of clavus. Anterior foot corners rather short and triangular.
Size: Typically about 20mm in length, but may exceed 30mm.
Notes: Feeds on hydroids such as Eudendrium californicum & Tubularia sp.