Paraplanocera 10
top photo: Pupukea, O`ahu. Tide pool.
photo 2: Damaris Torres-Pulliza, off Makaha, O`ahu. ~45 ft.
photo 3: Patricia Daly, Maalaea Bay, Maui. ~22 ft. (found by Rebecca Bicker)
photos 4-5: Cory Pittman, Wahikuli, Maui. 28-38 ft. Size: 30 mm.

ID from Newman & Cannon CD, where the top photo appears as the only photo for the species. "Body round with extremely crenulated margin, translucent, white with opaque white mottling. Margin clear with irregular transverse yellow lines. Head tentacles striped white and clear."

Photo 2 shows the unusual head tentacles quite clearly. Damaris writes: I found this animal - along with Roney E. Rodrigues - swaying back and forth with the swell over that 'hairy' reddish algae, Lyngbya majuscula. Depth ~14m, West shore Oahu. Update from Damaris: Btw, I have seen a few more.... Always over Lyngbya majuscula mats.

The animal in photo 3 was small, only about 1 cm. long, which might explain its brighter coloration.

The worm in photos 4 & 5 has a translucent brown background color instead translucent white, but is otherwise the same. Leslie Newman had only the one photo at top to work from.

BACK to mottled or speckled with marginal bands