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Additional Photos
 

underside

 

side
 

large, about 30 mm
 

rhinophores
 


extra rhinophores
 


interrupted line


wide line
 


white-lined
 

young
 


on food sponge?
 

mating
 

with eggs
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GALLERY




 
Thorunna kahuna
Johnson & Gosliner, 2001
 
Thorunna kahuna
Maximum size:  30 mm (Gosliner, et. al., 2008).

Identification:  This species is translucent pinkish-white with a magenta submarginal line on the mantle that may be interrupted in some animals. Occasionally, a narrow white line may be present inside the magenta one. The rhinophores have translucent pink stalks and orange-red clubs while the gills are orange-red with translucent pink bases. Rarely, they may have white tips. (see photo) It can be distinguished from Thorunna daniellae by the prominent, opaque-white mantle glands around the posterior margin and, occasionally, in front of the rhinophores (seen as distinct white granules). The latter species also has an opaque white notum and the boundary between the orange and white pigment on the rhinophores is angled rather than straight.

Natural history:  Thorunna kahuna is rare on Maui but more common on Oahu in rocky habitats at moderately protected to moderately exposed locations, often under silty conditions. It is found at depths of 3-24 m (10-80 ft) and vibrates its gills. It feeds on the sponge Dysidea sp. (Gosliner, et. al., 2008). It lays a cream egg mass.

Distribution:  Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Midway and Kure.

Taxonomic notes:  This species was listed as Babaina daniellae in Bertsch and Johnson, 1981 and as Thorunna sp. in Hoover, 1998. It was first recorded in Hawaii at Magic Island, Oahu by Scott Johnson on Nov. 13, 1977. The name is from the Hawaiian word for “healer” in reference to the visible mantle glands that may one day be found to contain chemicals that might aid in the treatment of disease. It's referred to as the "pink-tinged Thorunna" in Hoover, 1998 and as the "kahuna nudibranch" in Hoover, 2006.

Photo:  CP: 14 mm: Mala Wharf, Maui; Dec. 9, 2004.

Observations and comments:

Note 1:  ( )
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