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Phylum Mollusca
Opisthobranchs
Order Cephalaspidea
Head-Shields & Bubble
Shells
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Hawaii has many types of opisthobranchs some
of which are undescribed species. Some of these will go through population
surges, abundant one year and absent another, or seasonal appearances.
Most live less than a year and will be found near the specific food they
eat. Food includes seaweeds and a wide assortment of small invertebrates
such as sponges, cnidarians, and mollusks. Slugs that feed upon green
seaweed often store algal cells in their mantle for photosynthesis. Sea
Hares produce a purple ink from red algae when disturbed. Others may
produce toxic compounds from food or store stinging cells in the body as defense
against predators. Good places to find them are under stones in the
intertidal zone and shady walls and caverns in deeper water. As with many
invertebrates more will be seen at night.
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HAWAII
Family Acteonidae
Pupa tessellata
Wailupe, Oahu, 12 feet |
Wailupe, Oahu, 12 feet |
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| Uncommon in sand at scuba depths. About 3/4 inch.
Indo-Pacific. |
Family
Hydatinidae
Hydatina amplustre
Kaupo tidepool, Oahu
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Kaloko, Oahu, 6 feet |
Black Point, Oahu |
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SWOLLEN BUBBLE
| Locally common in silty sand under rocks in shallow
water during winter. Usually found inhabited by a hermit crab. Shell reaches 3/4 inch long. |
Micromelo undata
Keahole Point tidepool, Hawaii |
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WAVY BUBBLE
| Uncommon on algae on shallow reefs and tidepools. Shell about 3/8 inch long |
Family Haminoeidae
Atys semistriata
Hau`ula, Oahu, 4 feet |
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STRIATED BUBBLE
| Common under rocks in shallow water. Transparent shell with 6-8 spiral
striae above and below a clear area in the middle. Attains 3/8 inch.
Animal translucent white with red spots. |
Liloa curta
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Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet
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Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet
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 Kewalo,
Oahu, 80 feet
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Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet |
Spiral Striae |
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| Dead shells are common but living animals rarely seen on reefs from 40
to 80 feet.
Shell cylindrical, clear, with evenly spaced spiral striae along the
entire length. Animal white with orange spots. About 1/2 inch.
Hawaii & the Western Pacific. Formerly known as Haminoea
curta. |
Diniatys dentifer
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet
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Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet |
Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet |
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| Uncommon on algae at scuba depths.
Shell clear with spiral striae at the base, columella forms a tooth
pointed towards the outer lip. Animal mottled brown or green often
with a dark band near the eyes. About 1/4 inch. Hawaii &
the Indo-Pacific. |
Haminoea crocata
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 Kahala,
Oahu, 3 feet
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Kahala, Oahu, 3 feet |
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| Uncommon on algae on shallow reefs.
Shell yellow-brown. Animal greenish white with orange and black
spots, about 1 inch long. |
Haminoea cymbalum
Keahole Point tidepool, Hawaii |
Sliding Rock tidepool, Tutuila, American Samoa |
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CYMBAL BUBBLE
| Locally common on algae on shallow reefs and tidepools during winter.
Shell transparent. Animal about 1 inch long. |
Family Bullinidae
Bullina scabra
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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LINED
BUBBLE
| Rarely seen alive, usually inhabited by hermit crabs in shallow
water. About 1/2 inch. |
Family
Bullidae
Bulla
ampulla
ADAM'S BUBBLE
| Uncommon in silty sand in shallow water. Empty shells are
common. Animal is orange. About 1.5 inches. |
Family Smaragdinellidae
Smaragdinella calyculata
Makapu'u intertidal, Oahu
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Makapu'u intertidal, Oahu |
Makapu'u intertidal, Oahu |
Makapu'u intertidal, Oahu |
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CALYX BUBBLE
| Common on basalt in the high intertidal. About 1/2 inch. |
Phanerophthalmus sp.
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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| Possibly Phanerophthalmus cylindricus but not confirmed.
About 1/3 inch long. |
Family Aglajidae
Chelidonura hirundinina
Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet
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Kewalo, Oahu, 85 feet |
Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet |
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BLUE SWALLOWTAIL SLUG
| Common on shallow reefs. Feeds upon flatworms. Black with blue and yellow lines.
About 1 inch long. |
Chelidonura sp.
French Frigate Shoals, NWHI |
Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet
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Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet
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Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet |
Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet |
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SPOTTED SWALLOWTAIL SLUG
| A blue-spotted slug less common than the previous
species. One inch long. |
Chelidonura fulvipunctata
Keahole Point, Hawaii, tidepool |
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YELLOWSPOTTED SLUG
| Uncommon in shallow water and tidepools. One inch long. |
Unidentified Aglajid
Sharkfin, Lana'i, 50 feet |
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| Rare animal found under rock at Lana'i. One inch long. |
Family Gastropteridae
Siphopteron flavum
French Frigate Shoals, NWHI |
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| On sand at scuba depths. Less than 1/2 inch long and easy to miss. |
NORTHEAST PACIFIC
Family
Bullidae
Bulla gouldiana
 
White's Cove, Catalina, California, 20 feet |
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GOULD'S BUBBLE
| Uncommon in silty sand. Shell up to 2 inches. Ecuador to
central California. |
Family Aglajidae
Navanax inermis
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 20 feet |
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NAVANAX
| Common on sand from Baja California to Monterey Bay. Feeds upon
slugs. Up to 8 inches. |
Navanax polyalphos
Emerald Bay, Catalina, California, 30 feet |
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WHITESPOTTED NAVANAX
| Common on sand in Southern California and the Sea of Cortez.
About 2 inches. |
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