Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs of Guam (Part II)

We continue with another random selection of nudibranch and sea slug diversity from Guam. 

"Cincta" is Latin for "surrounded" or "encircled"; Glossodoris cincta is surrounded by an attractive margin of yellow and blue along the mantle.   Dollabella auricularia is the largest of the sea slugs known as "sea hares", and can grow as large as a big man's shoe.  Phaneropthalmus smaragdinus is one of the primitive sea slugs that still retains a partial shell inherited from its snail-like ancestors, though it is greatly reduced and hidden by the mass of the body.  Noumea angustolutea is sometimes found under coral rubble on shallow patch reefs.  Phyllidia guamensis is known only from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and is one of the area's more commonly seen nudibranchs as it is often exposed on the reef during the daytime.  Hypselodoris maculosa has striking coloration and markings.  Notobryon and other members of this family can swim by laterally flattening and flexing the body, and some live on floating algae drifting with the ocean's currents.  Some primitive sea slugs, like Bullina vitrea, still retain an obvious external shells.  Like many nudibranchs, little is known about the natural history of Noumea norba.  The group of nudibranchs know as Aeolids, like this Aeolidiella sp., are characterized by numerous body projections called cerata.  This lace-like unidentified discodorid may be a form of Halgerda sp.  The magnificent Phyllodesmium magnum feeds on soft corals and is a very rare sighting on Guam.