Costasiella Sp. #1

These tiny Costasiella Sp. 1 were found grazing on some mudleaf or Avrainvillea amadelpha alongside a few Costasiella kuroshimae.  One of them was notably larger than the C. kuroshimae — likely 4-5 mm.  Imagine an animal less than 1/4 of an inch, in a sandy surge zone on a piece of algae covered in sand and you’ll understand why it was such a gift to find these.  The most notable identifying characteristics:  a light white/cream body with white speckles, a dark mask behind the eye spots and cerata that have tinges of green, orange and blue — sometimes quite iridescent. These animals were found in less than 10 ft (3 metres) in Ma’alaea Bay, Maui.  For more images and taxonomic information please see Sea Slugs of Hawaii. 

Related Images: