Thysanozoon or Acanthozoon C
photos: Sara Thiebaud, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 40 ft. (at night)

Sara Thiebaud found this black and white striped worm at night on the wall of the Haleiwa Trench on Oahu's north shore. She has since found several more. Not many papillate worms are conspicuously patterned. We've never seen one with stripes, and there is nothing like it on the Newman & Cannon CD.

The marginal pseudotentacles and dense dorsal papillae suggest either the genus Thysanozoon or Acanthozoon. Unfortunately, these two genera cannot be distinguished from photos of the upper side alone. More images or sightings of this very unusual worm would be welcome.