Hoplodoris estrelyado Gosliner & Behrens, 1998

Hoplodoris estrelyado is uncommon in the Marshalls, where it so far has been recorded only from Kwajalein Atoll. It most often lives under rocks on lagoon reefs and pinnacles at depths of about 3 to 8 meters, although we have found one in a lagoon Halimeda patch. The specimens in the first three photos below ranged from 10 to 14mm in length.

The three individuals clustered together in the photo below were found on 27 June 1982.

The animal figured below is the largest of this species we have seen, measuring approximately 30mm in length. It was found on 21 July 2008 at a depth of about 9m in a lagoon Halimeda patch. A bit paler in color than the others we've seen, it was nearly twice the length of any of the others.

This large specimen was found with a mass of orange eggs.

A close-up shows the pattern and structure of the rhinophore.

Another light-colored specimen found 25 August 2008.

Created 15 December 2006
Updated 13 September 2008