Phyllidiopsis cardinalis Bergh, 1875
40mm

I recorded about 17 of these animals between 1978 and 1985, both day and night at depths between 5 and 25m. Specimens were found at various sites around Oahu as well as at Puako on the island of Hawaii. I found my first specimen early in my days of looking at slugs and quickly (mis)identified it as one of the cryptobranch dorid species (Carminodoris grandiflora) from Kay & Young's 1969 paper on Hawaiian dorids. Then I never looked closely at it again. It was years later when it was pointed out to me that the species has no dorsal gills and was a species of phyllidiid. Just goes to show that it is worthwhile to keep reexamining and rethinking things.

Created 20 April 2009

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