Tenellia sibogae is another small species and has been found in the Marshalls at Enewetak, Utirik, Majuro and Kwajalein Atolls. The first time we saw them, there were more than 25 specimens in a softball-sized mass of hydroid tentatively identified as Dynamena crisoides Lamouroux, 1824. Since then we have seen just one or two at a time on lagoon pinnacles or the seaward reef. They got a bit more common following the 2015 El Niño. Measured specimens ranged from 7 to 13mm.
This was a portion of the hydroid colony where we first found Tenellia sibogae.
Some Marshall Islands specimes are rather light in color, like this one found at night on the Kwajalein Atoll seaward reef in February 2016.
The next photos show another one found in February 2016 on Kwajalein Atoll's seaward reef.
Another pair on a hydroid growing under a rock on a large lagoon pinnacle north of Eniwetak Island, Kwajalein Atoll.
The next four shots of 13mm-long Majuro specimens by John and Lynette Flynn provide excellent views of the egg masses and hydroid prey of this colorful nudibranch.
Created 8 January 2007
Updated 26 November 2021