Elegant Sapsucker, Cyerce elegans

This stunning sapsucking sea slug is a very rare sight for snorkelers as it is most commonly found in Halimeda beds at depths of 10 metres or more.  These individuals were found at the edge of a rock near a shallow Halimeda bed in Ma’alaea Bay, Maui.  Conditions were turbulent and there were bits of algae everywhere so it’s anyone’s guess how they arrived in less than 2 metres of water.   The lace-like edging to their cerata is enhanced by the occasional glorious iridescent blue/turquoise/green spots. On one of the animals documented here the spots are noticeable, especially as it disappears into a dark hole and the light catches the cerata.  On the other, there appears to be no spots at all.  These animals were approximately 30-35 mm. For more information and photos of darker individuals, see Sea Slugs of Hawaii

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