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 to brownish-white, to white, or even dark brown or orange. Body sprinkled with numerous lemon yellow or orange dots, especially on cerata and velar processes; with a smaller number of brown, red-brown, gold, green, & white dots. Four distinct, light to dark brown stripes occur longitudinally on dorsum (may be lacking in some individuals). Frontal veil bears 4-6 short, slightly branched processes. Rhinophores bear 9-14 lamellae. May be distinguished from other species of the genus in California, by lacking a lateral process on rhinophore shaft. Margin of rhinophores sheath bears 5 short, blunt processes which are mostly unbranched. The 3-6 opposite pairs of stout cerata are stout.
Size: Typically about 20-25mm in length, but may exceed 30mm.
Notes: Feeds on hydroids such as: Aglaophenia struthionides & Tubularia marina.