Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   1st animal   side   rhinophores   branchia   pairs   young   laying eggs   entoproct detail	Trapania palmula Gosliner & Fahey, 2008   Maximum size:  about 4 mm. Identification:  This is a mottled cream and brown animal. The extra-branchial and extra-rhinophoral appendages usually have diagonal, violet-blue marks at their midpoints (though they may be absent in some). The oral tentacles are usually tipped with yellow and there are often yellow sub-apical spots on the extra-branchial and extra-rhinophoral appendages. Natural history:  Trapania palmula is known from half a dozen animals found among entoprocts growing on the sponge Spheciospongi vagabunda. They were at a moderately exposed site at a depth of about 5-7 m (16-22 ft). It presumably feeds on the entoprocts with which it's associated. It lays an irregular, white egg mass. (Note 1) Distribution:  Maui: widely distributed in the Pacific. Taxonomic notes:  It was first found in Hawaii at Maalaea Bay, Maui by Kelly McCaffrey on July 28, 2024. Photo:  Kelly McCaffrey: Maalaea Bay, Maui; Sept. 3, 2024. Observations and comments: Note 1:  Jenna reported: "There were 2 animals on the same sponge today, one small and one much larger animal appearing to deposit eggs in a linear fashion near the base of the sponge. It was crawling along the bottom part of the sponge making it about half way around the base before abruptly turning and crawling rather quickly back next to its eggs."
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