Up until 2009, we had seen only five specimens of Aegires pruvotfolae in the Marshalls, all from Enewetak Atoll. All were under rocks on the lagoon reef off Enewetak Island at depths of 4 to 7 meters, and they measured up to 6mm in length. The specimen immediately below is one of these first five. On 8 and 9 February 2009, and additional six specimens were recorded from a single reef at Kwajalein Atoll, where they were under rocks at depths of about 6m, some feeding on a yellow sponge. The remaining photos show some of these. Many more specimens have been observed in the same general area since then, but they seem to come and go; at times we see them every dive, at others they are not found for months at a time. There is some disagreement about the name of this species. Formerly it was known as A. citrinus; however, further study indicated the genus Notodoris needed to be conbined with Aegires, and since there was an earlier Notodoris citrina, it took precedence when the genera were combined, and A. citrinus had to be given a new name so it became A. pruvotfolae. Further research suggested that Notodoris is valid after all, but at this point not everyone agrees. If Notodoris is indeed valid, then the name of A. pruvotfolae will need to revert to A. citrinus.
Feeding on yellow sponge.
A nearby egg mass, probably belonging to one of these.
Here is one of 13 specimens observed under rocks on a shallow Kwajalein lagoon reef on 19 October 2009. The image of this tiny animal was captured from video.
We originally held the specimen below aside as its more elongate body was possibly something different. It is most likely a more elongate Aegires pruvotfolae.
Created 3 January 2007
Updated 4 January 2022