Okenia nakamotoensis (Hamatani, 2001)

Okenia nakamotoensis is one of two species that not only are colored very much alike, they live in the same areas and eat the same bryozoan. See the text under Okenia kondoi for a description of the differences between the two species. The bryozoan prey of both species is shown in some of the photos below. Both species live in ledges and small caves on lagoon pinnacles and occasionally on the seaward reef. In the right areas, they are quite common, but you have to look close. The largest specimens we've seen are about 10mm long, but most are in the 3 to 7mm range.

The picture below is a bit fuzzy, but it shows how the nudibranch wraps its foot completely around the bryozoan colony to help hold on in currents or surges.

Created 3 January 2007
Updated 29 May 2007