Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California
Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz
Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey Co., CA; 12 Dec 2008; 27mm total length.
Description: Ground color cream to very light yellow. An irregular series of 7-13 or more small, brown to black dots with yellow centers occurs longitudinally on either side of the dorsum. Rhinophores yellow to yellowish-tan, with 8-12 lamellae. Branchial plumes 12, unipinnate, light yellow to light yellowish-tan. The brown to black dots with yellow centers distinguish it from both Cadlina flavomaculata and Cadlina modesta, which have yellow spots.
Size: Typically 15-20mm in length, but may reach 27mm.
Notes: Jeff Goddard notes that it feeds on Aplysilla glacialis.
Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey Co., CA; 12 Dec 2008; 27mm total length.
Monterey Breakwater, Monterey Co., CA; 22 Mar 1972; 20mm total length.
Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey Co., CA; 27 May 2009; 24mm total length. Close-up of rhinophore.
Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey Co., CA; 27 May 2009; 24mm total length.