Ceratosoma palliolatum Rudman, 1988
45mm

We have seen more than a dozen Ceratosoma palliolatum specimens here in the Marshalls, all at Kwajalein Atoll. They seem to live almost exclusively on the slopes of lagoon pinnacles, but one was on a lagoon reef off Kwajalein Island. All but two were found at night crawling in ledges and small caves at depths of 10 to 20 meters; the exceptions were seen during the day hiding under a rock. The largest one we've seen measured about 45mm in length. Ceratosoma palliolatum was first reported in the Marshalls from Kwajalein Atoll in the original description by Rudman (1988).

This Kwajalein Island specimen was found by Christina Sylvester.

Below is a specimen observed in a lagoon pinnacle cave at night on 6 November 2016.

Created 3 January 2006
Updated 23 March 2017

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