Elysia marginata is either quite variable or there are a number of similar species. In the Marshalls, there are several that could be this species, or they could all be variations. The animal in the first photo below from Enewetak fits the description of E. marginata pretty well, except it mostly lacks the white spots on its body. We have seen this variety of Elysia marginata in the Marshalls at Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls. This species was long considered synonymous with the Atlantic Ocean Elysia ornata. It was first reported in the Marshalls from Bikini Atoll by Marcus (1965).
The specimen below, found on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon pinnacle at a depth of 6m on 5 January 2009, seems to have more typical coloration.
The specimen in the two photos below was found on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon reef under a rock in 6m of water on 9 March 2009.
The following two shots show a darker specimen found on Halimeda algae growing on the edge of a floating dock in Kwajalein Harbor on 13 July 2009.
The next one was in a lagoon algae patch on 15 August 2011.
One more with a small triphorid shell.
The specimen below from Ken Cone and Beth Van Zummeren at Majuro Atoll appears to be missing a rhinophore.
A 5mm long juvenile.
Created 2 February 2007
Updated 21 September 2021