Cuthona acinosa (Risbec, 1928)

Cuthona acinosa is known from the Marshalls from two specimens found together on the Medren Pier pilings on Enewetak Atoll, and two more from Kwajalein that we think are the same. The Enewetak specimens were at a depth of 2 meters and measured 13 and 10mm long. The larger of these is figured in the first two photos below. The third photo below shows an individual found at Kwajalein Atoll. While it looks basically the same, the cerata are more inflated and spotted with white, and the rhinophores are considerably larger with a more inflated look as well.

The photo below shows the first individual found at Kwajalein Atoll. While it looks basically the same, the cerata are more inflated and spotted with white, and the rhinophores are considerably larger with a more inflated look as well.

The specimen below was found in the lagoon Halimeda beds at Kwajalein on 17 February 2008 at a depth of about 8 meters. The rhinophores of this specimen are extremely long. It would seem they have the ability to stretch them out.

Created 8 January 2007
Updated 18 April 2008