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Additional Photos
side
foot corner
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Flabellina cf. rubropurpurata
Gosliner & Willan, 1991
Maximum Size: About 9 mm
(estimated from photo).
Identification:
The
body
of
this
aeolid
is
bright
violet
with diffuse white patches on the
margins of the notum. The cerata are orange with violet bases and
tips, both frosted with white. The cephalic tentacles are tipped with
white and there are apical
and medial white bands on the perfoliate rhinophores.
Natural History:
Flabellina cf. rubropurpurata
is known from a single animal found crawling in the open by day at
about 18 m (60 ft). It was on the edge of a drop off exposed to
strong currents.
Distribution:
Big Island: Flabellina rubropurpurata
is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
This
species
was
first
recorded
in
Hawaii
from
Mahaiula Beach, Big Island by Paul Okumura on
Aug. 6, 2009.
It appears similar to photos of Flabellina
rubropurpurata from elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific but with
enough differences in detail to suggest that it may prove endemic when
DNA is checked.
Photo: Paul
Okumura: about 9 mm (estimated from photo): Mahaiula Beach, Big Island;
Aug. 6, 2009.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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