Description below Return to Side-gilled Slugs
This unusual and rather large (up to 75 mm) pleurobrancomorph is rarely seen in Hawaii. Many a diver or snorkeler has likely passed right over their posterior siphon and rhinophores sticking out of the sand. The odd fortunate ocean goer will get to see these sea slugs up in the water column swimming. See the video clip below to get an idea of how these large sea slugs manoevre through the water. Due to their brown and white colouring and spotting these may initially be mistaken for the Jorunna fenebris, but their broad oral veil, large size and lack of branchial gills should be an immediate give-away. For more information and photos, see Bill Rudman’s Sea Slug Forum and Cory Pittman and Pauline Fiene’s Sea Slugs of Hawaii.