Dolabrifera dolabrifera is common under rocks on intertidal and shallow subtidal reefs at Kwajalein and Enewetak. Its first Marshall Islands record was from Enewetak Atoll by Marcus & Burch (1965).
Sometimes they are quite hard to see on their typical background.
There can be considerable color variation.
Below is a white and red color variant photographed by Stan Jazwinski at Ailinglaplap Atoll.
Another interesting color variety from Majuro from Ken Cone and Beth Van Zummeren.
These two very differently colored animals were next to each other under a rock.
The individual below is on a brownish egg mass, visible flattened on the rock to the left of the animal. A pair photographed in Hawaii was caught in the process of mating. They also deposited eggs, but those were more purple, matching the color of the animals.
While the maroon one below was easy to spot, it took a few moments for my eyes to focus on the fuzzy one right next to it.
Created 27 January 2007
Updated 16 October 2021