Hawaii Slug

Does anybody know what this slug is, or have you seen a similar one before? This one is about an inch long and was in a cave at 80 ft off the Big Island. Hawaii nudibranch experts are unsure, but are starting to suspect it may be a color form of Phyllidia exquisita.

Thanks

Jerry

Hi,

I just photographed the same one in Bunaken Marine Park. Experts have agreed to disagree. Bill Rudman thinks it's P. exquisita, whilst another expert feels it's P. willani. Here's the opinion of Dr. Rudman:

http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=21800

Cheers,

Marli

Thanks a lot Marli. Yours looks quite similar. I just sent my photo to the Sea Slug Forum as well.

Aloha,

Jerry

On a second look, yours is a lot more flattened, but they do tend to change shape. Bill is of the opinion that many of these , as I call them, "lumpy bumpies", are all colour forms of Phyllidia ocellata.

Cheers,

Marli

Nice find jerry!! I've never seen anything like this!