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Additional Photos
top
oral hood
with eggs
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Melibe pilosa Pease, 1860
Maximum size: 120 mm (Kay,
1979).
Identification:
This is a large species with broad, wedge-shaped cerata. It's
translucent-cream flecked with opaque cream and brown. Both the
body and cerata are finely papillate. The oral hood is large and the
rhinophores small.
Natural history:
This is a rare species on Maui where we've only seen three animals.
They were found
under rocks in moderately protected to moderately exposed sites at
depths of 3-8 m (10-26 ft). However, Kay (1979) lists it a common
on shallow fringing reefs on Oahu where it can be found among algae
from the low intertidal to 1.5 m (4 ft). It probably feeds primarily at
night
and lays a white, folded egg mass.
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui and Oahu: also known from Easter Island.
Taxonomic notes:
It's referred to as the "throw-net nudibranch" in Hoover, 1998 &
2006 and was first reported from Hawaii in Pease, 1860.
Photo: Scott
Johnson: about 80 mm: Kewalo reef, Oahu; March 8, 1978.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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