Rose-pink Cuthona, Cuthona divae
This tiny nudibranch is often mistaken for one of the “red-gilled” nudibranchs, the Himatina triophina or the Coryphella pseudoverrucosa, but its distinguishing features are its near-transparent rhinophores and its bright-white tipped cerata. They feed on the very bright salmon-pink hydroid and their eggs are much differently shaped than those of the triophina or pseudoverrucosa. Their prey and eggs are visible in the first image. The animals documented here were only about 20mm and were found on the underside of a rich and diverse public dock on Pender Island.