Aldisa pikokai
Bertsch & Johnson, 1982

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Dorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from Hawaii and Marshall Ids.

PHOTO

Oahu, Hawaii. approx 20mm long. Photos: Scott Johnson.

Grows to approx 20mm and ranges in in colour from orange to bright red. These photos are all from Oahu, Hawaii, where it is a relatively common species on shallow subtidal reefs, often found exposed on the reef or feeding on an encrusting red sponge at night. Specimens hide away and are almost never observed during the day. The animals are characterized by the often sharp longitudinal and transverse ridges that crisscross the dorsum, and by three crater-like depressions running along the middorsal line. The craters usually have darker oval spots on their 'floors'. Although we originally thought this was found only in Hawaii, I have since come across two typical specimens at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. A similar and possibly unnamed species Aldisa sp. 5 from Hawaii shares the same habitat but lacks the ridges and has different dorsal craters.

Note: Aldisa sp. 4 from South Africa may be this species.

• Bertsch, H., & S. Johnson. 1982. Three new species of dorid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from the Hawaiian Islands. The Veliger, 24(3): 208-218.

Authorship details
Johnson, S., 2002 (March 17) Aldisa pikokai Bertsch & Johnson, 1982. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/aldipiko

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