Biuve cf. fulvipunctata

I came across this rather tiny (10 mm) well-camouflaged headshield sea slug in an area of North Kihei that was severely damaged by the Kona low storm of December 5/6th, 2021.  Where once there was a vibrant community of algae and sponge, tunicates, opistobranchs and numerous other invertebrates, all that remained two months later was a pile of dead rocks covered in a few inches of upcountry sludge.  Needless to say I was thrilled to see something had survived — especially something so cute with little orange marks and lines I could anthropomorphize into a sad little face.  These animals apparently vary dramatically in colour, sometimes being so blue as to resemble the Blue Swallowtails.  The Sea Slugs of Hawaii site has numerous photos to ponder, and should you find a Chelidonura hirundinina that looks out of sorts, it may just be a Biuve cf. fulvipunctata.

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