This species looks somewhat like Elysia marginata but differs in the color of the margins and the lack of orange behind the spots on the sides of the parapodia. It does not match the Elysia punctata in Gosliner et al (2018), which has larger black spots and no orange pigment, but it is the closest we have seen and warrants further comparison. The Marshall Islands specimens vary from light to dark green with numerous small white and black spots and scattered larger whitish patches. The highly undulating parapodial margins bear a thin green line at the very edge and a sider yellow to orange submargin. Rhinophores are colored as the body with the tips yellow. This species is common and has been found at Enewetak and Kwajalein Atolls, mostly on lagoon pinnacles and algae patches, but also on the seaward reef.
The specimen immediately below came from a lagoon reef algae patch on 24 April 2011.
On the specimen below, the green line bordering the parapodia has darkened to nearly black.
This pair was found on the side of an algae-covered rock on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon reef on 14 June 2009.
Both specimens in the two photos below were found on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon pinnacle on 25 October 2009.
The large specimen below was found on 20 June 2010 on a Kwajalein lagoon pinnacle in a pile of rubble.
One of many found in another lagoon algae patch on 12 August 2011.
Too many photos of this species, but it was hard to resist one crawling over these colorful tunicates.
This heavily damaged individual still seemed to be surviving.
This one appeared to be eating the Bryopsis algae it is crawling over.
Another on Byropsis.
Created 5 February 2007
Updated 5 December 2018