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Additional Photos
pattern detail
side
young, about 3 mm
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Bornella stellifer (Adams & Reeve,
1848)
Maximum size: 29 mm.
Identification:
While
this species is quite variable in color throughout its
Indo-Pacific range, the few photographed Hawaiian animals share a
unique pattern. The body is translucent white with brown reticulations
and
some opaque white as in other B.
stellifer. However, the Hawaiian animals also have opaque white
markings
on
the dorsum that form an "x" on the head and another in front of the
first pair of cerata, then less-pronounced "x"s between subsequent
pairs. The
rhinophoral
stalks are long and bear long, pointed papillae.
Natural history:
This is a rare
species on Maui. We've found one mature animal under rubble
in a moderately exposed location at 11 m (36 ft). In addition, we've
found a small juvenile at a moderately exposed rocky site at 2-6 m
(5-20 ft). However, Scott Johnson found about 20
animals over seven years of diving on the Big Island and Oahu, all on
night dives at depths of 5-15 m (16-49 ft). They were under ledges at
exposed to highly exposed rocky sites. (pers.
com.) It feeds on hydroids
(Bertsch & Johnson, 1981).
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui and Oahu: widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
This
species is listed as Bornella
adamsii in Bertsch and Johnson,
1981. Scott Johnson has expressed some reservations about whether the
Hawaiian population is the same as the widespread Indo-Pacific species.
(pers. com.) It was first recorded in
Hawaii at Pupukea, Oahu by Scott Johnson on Sept 15, 1977. It's named
for the star-like shape of the oral tentacles.
Photo: PF: 29 mm: off Makena, Maui; March 8, 1988.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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