Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California

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

Description: Ground color cream to light yellow, occasionally tinted with orange or pink. A series of 16-20 or more small, lemon yellow dots occurs longitudinally on either side of dorsum, extending anterior of rhinophores and posterior of branchial plumes. Rhinophores cream to light yellow, with 10-12 lamellae. Branchial plumes 10-12, unipinnate, cream to light yellow. Can be distinguished from the similar Cadlina flavomaculata which has brown to almost black rhinophores, and 6-10 or more lemon yellow dots longitudinally on either side of the dorsum, which usually do not extend anterior of rhinophores; and from the rarer Cadlina sparsa which has dark spots with yellow centers longitudinally on either side of the dorsum.
Size: Typically 15-20mm, but may exceed 30mm in length.
Notes: Feeds on the sponge Aplysilla glacialis.