Pseudobiceros stellae  Newman & Cannon, 1994
photos 1-2: Magic Island boat channel, Honolulu. 15 ft. (at night)
photo 3: specimen collected on O`ahu.
photo 4: Cory Pittman, Hekili Point, Maui. < 3 ft

ID from Newman & Cannon CD. Original 1994 description reads: "Background velvety black or chocolate brown with raised white microdots evenly distributed over the entire surface; larger dots regularly distributed and arranged in 'flower-like' clusters. Pseudotentacles with white tips."

"P. stellae is sometimes found under the same boulder as the common nudibranch Dendrodoris nigra. Both animals have the same color pattern, size range and are possibly mimics."

A common flatworm from the Red Sea to Hawai`i. Named for Mrs. Stella Laycock; by coincidence, stella means "star" in Latin, which is also appropriate.

Additional photos from Hawai`i are posted on Keoki Stender's website

A photo of this worm appears in Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawaii, section 2, plate 2.I.2e, captioned:"Pseudobiceros sp."

BACK to mottled or speckled
BACK to solid colors
.

Cory Pittman