Lobiger viridis Pease, 1863
20mm

Lobiger viridis has been found in clumps of at least a couple of different kinds of Caulerpa algae, including C. urvilleana and C. racemosa, on lagoon reefs at Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls, usually at depths of about 7-20m. It is a difficult animal to spot in its normal habitat. Lobiger viridis was originally described with blue lines on the green shell, and it has been suggested that specimens lacking those lines are different. The ones we see here seem to range from solid green shells to having a few blue dots to having several irregular blue longitudinal streaks, and they all appear to be the same species. We also have what we are calling Lobiger viridis in Hawaii, although there is a chance that is a different species.

The closeup below shows the rolled tube rhinophores.

The animals are often found stretched along the Caulerpa runners with their appendages flattened into a line, making specimens quite difficult to spot.

This specimen found on Caulerpa in a lagoon Halimeda patch has a trace of the elongate bluish lines on the animal beneath the transparent shell.

This one that came out of an algae sample also has distinct and irregular blue lines on the dorsum.

The one below used its flapping lobes to swim a short distance.

A very small juvenile found and photographed by Christina Sylvester off Kwajalein Island.

This tiny juvenile was photographed by Jay Lord on Caulerpa on a lagoon reef.

Created 7 February 2007
Updated 19 March 2017

Return to sacoglossan thumbnails

UnderwaterKwaj home