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Additional Photos
banded
with egg masses
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Aeolidiella indica (Bergh, 1888)
Maximum size: 21 mm (Kay,
1979).
Identification:
This
species
has closely spaced rhinophores and laterally directed
cerata. The body is cream, tinted with orange. The cerata have
prominent cnidosacs in their tips. The cerata and notum may be flecked
with white and some animals may have irregular white subapical bands on
their
cerata. Most have white tips on their rhinophores and cephalic
tentacles.
Natural history: On
Maui, Aolidiella indica
is a moderately rare species found from the low
intertidal to a depth of 15 m (49 ft) in protected to
exposed rocky areas and in Halimeda
kanaloana beds. However, it may be more common in the low
intertidal on Oahu (Bertsch and Johnson, 1981). It lays white spiral
egg masses composed of a
"kinked" ribbon.
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai: circumtropical.
Taxonomic notes:
This
is
the species listed as Aeolidiella
takanosimiensis Baba, 1930c in Kay, 1979 and Bertsch and
Johnson, 1981. Some authors list it as Anteaeolidiella indica. It was
first recorded in Hawaii from Poipu, Kauai by Allison Kay in Jan., 1965.
Photo: PF: 4
mm; spotted: Mokolea Point, Maui; Sept. 12, 1995.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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