Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California
Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 25 Oct 2007; ~15mm total length.
Description: Ground color translucent greyish-white, with a slight opalescent blue cast on dorsal surface of foot. Large individuals may have an area of suffused orange-yellow anteriorly on head. Cerata rose-pink distally, fading in intensity proximally, and tipped with white or gold; cores dark brown to almost black, rarely very dark green. Oral tentacles bluish-white with a red-orange line on dorso-basal portion, which extends over mouth to opposite tentacle. Large individuals may also bear a sort line of same color mid-ventrally on oral tentacles. Rhinophores with 10-22 lamellae and are pale orange-yellow with rich orange-yellow on proximal lamellae.
Size: Typically about 30mm in length, but may exceed 70mm.
Notes: Feeds on hydroids, and is known to attack other nudibranchs.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 5 Mar 2008; 34mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 4 July 2008; 49mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 13 Nov 2008; 36mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 28 Apr 2009; 31mm total length.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 9 Apr 2008; 43mm total length.