Price's Aeolid

Apata pricei

Price's Aeolid is a small sea slug characterized by its translucent white body with a pinkish hue. The cerata, which are the prominent structures on its back, are arranged in neat rows and display an orange color in the outer third, culminating in a red tip. A distinguishing feature is the small spot or ring of opaque white at the cnidosac. This species can reach a maximum length of 25 mm, making it relatively small among nudibranchs. Divers can identify it by its unique color pattern and the arrangement of its cerata, which sets it apart from similar species in the region. This species is primarily found in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, with its type locality being Monterey Bay, California. It inhabits shallow waters, typically in rocky environments and tide pools, and has been recorded at depths shallower than 40 meters, with most occurrences noted at depths around 20 meters. Price's Aeolid is known to feed on hydroids, specifically Halecium and Corymorpha palma, which are small colonial organisms found in its habitat. Encounters with Price's Aeolid can be intriguing for divers, as they often blend into their surroundings, making them somewhat cryptic. Observing their feeding behavior on hydroids can provide insight into their ecological role.