Maritigrella eschara Newman & Cannon, 2000
top photo: specimen collected by Ron Holcom on Oahu. Size: about 1/2 in.
lower 2 photos: Bill Stohler, "Haleiwa Trench," Oahu, 85 ft.

Specimen in top photo was identified by Leslie Newman. CD gives this species color description: "Background body colour cream-white to grey-green with numerous fine transverse lines radiating out from around the medial area; some lines form dark blotches medially. Medial area with faint orange spots. Margin with smaller broken lines."

This rare animal, surely one of Hawaii's most beautiful flatworms, also occurs in Australia, Timor, and undoubtedly elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. The genus name Maritigrella, meaning "tiger of the sea", reflects the pattern of transverse stripes present on most species.

BACK to streaks or lines