Austraeolis stearnsi (T. D. A. Cockerell, 1901)

Description

A small aeolid about 25 mm long, notable for its brilliant orange to yellowish colour. Slender cerata are arranged in clusters along the back. The oral tentacles are long, and the anterior foot corners are drawn out into long, tentacle-like points.

Distribution

Northeastern Pacific, recorded from Santa Cruz, California, south to southern Baja California Sur, Mexico. It lives on rocky reefs. The species was originally described from California.

Etymology

The specific epithet stearnsi was given by the author, Cockerell, in honour of the American malacologist Stearns.

Remarks

A hydroid-feeding aeolid. In English it is known as Stearns’ aeolid.

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References

• Facelina stearnsi n.sp., Cockerell T.D.A. (1901). Three new nudibranchs from California. The Journal of Malacology. 8(3): 85-87.
• Austraeolis stearnsi comb. nov., Chan J.M. & Gosliner T.M. (2006). A redescription of Facelina stearnsi Cockerell, 1901 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidacea: Facelinidae) with a reassignment of its generic placement. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement. 69: 111-117.
• Austraeolis stearnsi, Helmut Debelius, Rudie H. Kuiter. (2007). Nudibranchs of the World.