Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   young, about 60 mm   transitional   shell	Pleurobranchus grandis Pease, 1868   Maximum size:  about 300 mm. (Hoover, 2006); perhaps as large as 800 mm (Kay, 1979). Identification:  The notum of this species is covered with a tile-like pattern of flattened tubercles composed of rings of smaller tubercles surrounding larger central ones. Hawaiian animals appear to range from dark red brown to deep violet although cream and cream spotted animals are common elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. Very young animals elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific are cream with violet-brown tipped tubercles that are less developed than in mature animals. Clusters of tubercles are separated by a network of white lines that disappear as the animals mature. Natural history: On Maui, Pleurobranchus grandis is a moderately rare species that we've found at moderately exposed to exposed rocky sites at depths of 5-10 m (15-33 ft) as well as in moderately protected sand habitats at 18 m (60 ft). However, it's listed as "fairly common at depths of about 30 m (98 ft)" in Kay, 1979 and has also been photographed to depths of  74 m (243 ft) by HURL submersibles. Rarely, it can be found in tide pools. Like Pleurobranchus forskalii, it usually caries the posterior portion of its mantle in a siphon-like fold. Distribution:  Maui and Oahu: Widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. Taxonomic notes:  The description of Pleurobranchus violaceus Pease, 1864 in Kay, 1979 probably refers to these animals. However, the original description of P. violaceus  probably refers to Pleurobranchus cf. peroni. (Terry Gosliner, pers. com.). It's listed as Pleurobranchus sp. 2 in Hoover, 1998. It's referred to as the "tiled pleurobranch" in Hoover, 1998 & 2006. Photo:  Scott Johnson: about 150 mm: found by Stan Jazwinski; Kihei, Maui; Aug., 1977. Observations and comments: Note 1:  ( )
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