Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California
Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz
Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co., CA; 17 Oct 1971; 7mm total length.
Description: Ground color greyish-white; with small, opaque white dots on head & in cardiac region; with 2 oval, diffuse, light orange spots dorso-medially on head, one just anterior and one posterior of rhinophores. Cerata translucent whitish, cores light ochre with scattered, dark brownish-black spots which are often concentrated in 3 bands, surface of cores bears numerous, opaque white dots. Oral tentacles with opaque white dots distally. Rhinophores smooth, pale orange proximally and with opaque white dots distally. Anterior foot corners elongate. May be distinguished from the more common Hermissenda crassicornis which has weakly perfoliate rhinophores & opalescent blue lines on either side of brilliant cadmium orange between rhinophores.
Size: Typically about 10mm in length.
Notes: Very rare in Monterey Bay area. Usually amongst hydroids on docks and pilings.
Moss Landing, Monterey Co., CA; 17 Nov 1971; 8mm total length.
Moss Landing, Monterey Co., CA; 17 Nov 1971; 10mm total length.
SKipper;s Docks, Moss Landing, Monterey Co., CA; 1 Nov 1972; 8mm total length.
Mile Buoy Chain, Moss Landing, Monterey Co., CA; 21 Sep 1972; 12mm total length.
Mile Buoy Chain, Moss Landing, Monterey Co., CA; 21 Sep 1972; 8mm total length.