Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   side   underside   front   cerata detail   elevated cerata   regenerating   feeding? laying eggs	Cerberilla sp. #2   Maximum size:  8 mm. Identification:  The body of this animal is cream with extensive white pigment on the notum and closely set, brick-red rhinophores. The cerata are cream flecked with white and the lateral cerata have dark brown bases. The cephalic tentacles are very long. Natural history:  Cerberilla sp. #2 is a moderately common aeolid found in Halimeda kanaloana beds at depths of 8-30 m (25-100 ft). It showed diurnal activity and strong positive phototaxis when held in a dish. It probably feeds on sand-dwelling anemones. (Note 1) It lays an irregular, spiral, white egg mass composed of many short arcs. A video of a mating pair (by Christy Coppolo) can be seen here. Distribution:  Big Island, Maui and Oahu. Taxonomic notes:  This animal appears similar to one that was formerly illustrated as Cerberilla sp #2 on Robert Bolland's Okinawa site. It was first recorded in Hawaii from off the Lahaina waterfront, Maui by CP on Oct. 8, 2008. Photo:  CP: 7 mm: found by PF; near McGregor Point, Maui; Nov. 7, 2008. Observations and comments: Note 1:  While held, one of the animals appeared to take a few "bites" out of the disk of a small anemone (Anemonia mutabilis?) before breaking off. However, there was little apparent damage to the anemone and it didn't resume feeding on it over the next 24 hours.
	Thumbnails Species list Family Next species Top