Acotylean A
photo 1: Cory Pittman, under rock, Kapalua Bay, Maui. < 19 ft.
photo 2: Karolle Wall. Hekili Point, Maui

Body fleshy with a few marginal ruffles. Translucent with wide brown median stripe bordered by opaque white, thicker posteriorily. Pair of small tentacles at anterior end of stripe. Apparently known so far only from Hawai`i.

Nothing like this appears on the Newman & Cannon CD. However, a photo of the species appears in Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawaii, section 2, plate 2.I.6b with this description: "Undet. Acotylea: note nuchal tentacles, Kewalo, Oahu, intertidal under rocks; length 25-30 mm."

Cory Pittman notes that it somewhat resembles the worm Stylochoplana inquilina with the colors reversed. Possibly it belongs to the same genus and family (Leptoplanidae).

UPDATE: February 2023: Karolle Wall found two of these at Hekili Point, Maui. One is shown in photo 2.

More photos of this rare worm would be welcome.

BACK to longitudinal stripes