Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   underside    head   red line   young   contracted cerata   feeding   egg mass _______________   GALLERY	Bulbaeolidia alba (Risbec, 1928)   Maximum size:  9 mm. Identification:  This is a chalk-white aeolid with prominent swellings on its rhinophores and, usually, an orange-red patch on top of its head. Often, there is also a narrow red line surrounding the bases of the rhinophores. It is similar to Bulbaeolidia paulae but is more coarsely mottled with fewer cerata in each arc and less well defined white tips on its cerata. Natural history:  Bulbaeolidia alba is a common diurnal species found in protected to moderately exposed rocky habitats and in Halimeda kanaloana beds at depths of < 1 to 20 m (< 3 to 65 ft). When crawling, it jerks its posterior cerata rhythmically. As least to a human eye, this makes it resemble a sprig of  the calcified green algae Neomeris sp. waving in the current. It feeds on small anemones, perhaps including ceriantharians. Its egg mass is a weakly "kinked" white spiral. The eggs hatch in about four days in the laboratory. Distribution:  Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, French Frigate Shoals and Midway: widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. Taxonomic notes:  This species is listed on many sites as Aeolidiella alba. It was first recorded in Hawaii at Magic Island, Oahu by Scott Johnson on Jan. 18, 1978. Photo:  PF: 8 mm: found by CP: Hekili Pt., Maui; Sept. 25, 1990. Observations and comments: Note 1:  ( )
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