Pacific Reef and Shore. Rick M. Harbo

with black “eye spots.” Female with dark, rounded head (A, left) and male with lighter bulbous head (A, right) often pair for life and guard eggs in den. Juveniles bright orange. Intertidal to 700’ (210 m) deep.

      Flatfish (Flounders)

      CO-Sole

       Pleuronicthys coenosus

      To 14” (35 cm) long. Oval body with high sides. Large, dark spot on centre of back resembles the letters CO. Large, prominent eyes. On sand and in eelgrass beds, shallows to 1,200’ (360 m) deep.

      Rock Sole

       Pleuronectes bilineatus

      To 2’ (60 cm) long. Black and yellow patches on fins, yellow spots along margins of side. Prominent arch in lateral line. Often rests on fins, unlike most other flounders. In sand or mud, intertidal to 1,500’(450 m) deep.

      English Sole

       Pleuronectes vetulus

      To 22½” (56 cm) long. Pointed head, large eyes. Slender body, lateral line without high arch. Variable colour patterns. Often partially buried in sand or mud, intertidal to 1,800’ (540 m) deep.

      Nudibranchs (Sea Slugs)

      Phylum Mollusca

      Nudibranchs are colourful—sometimes spectacular—favourites of tidepool explorers and divers. Many species have a retractable plume-like gill projection or numerous cerata (protrusions), shaped like fingers, paddles or clubs. Some also have papillae (finger-like projections) or tubercles (bumps) on the body for respiration, camouflage and defence.

      Dorid Nudibranchs

      Features include flattened body, retractable gill plume and rhinophores (paired sensory organs on the head). Dorids lay lacy ribbons of eggs.

      Spotted Leopard Dorid

       Diaulula odonoghuei

      To 3” (7.5 cm) long. Elongated oval body with fine tubercles (bumps). Dark brown spots, solid or occasionally ring-shaped, that extend onto the mantle margin. On rocks and sponges, intertidal to 115’ (35 m) deep. D. sandiegensis is more humped and has only a few dark rings or spots on body, found on open coast.

      Monterey Sea Lemon

       Doris montereyensis

      To 6” (15 cm) long. Slender. Yellow to orange; scattered dark tubercles (bumps). Gills yellow colour. Feeds on sponges. Usually intertidal, but subtidal to 165’ (50 m) deep.

      Red Nudibranch

       Rostanga pulchra

      To 5/8” (1.5 cm) long. Oval. Red-orange, sometimes with brown to black spots. Lays red ribbons of eggs and feeds on the velvety red sponge (p. 77). Intertidal and shallow subtidal, to 65’ (20 m).

      Clown Dorid

       Triopha catalinae

      To 6” (15 cm) long. Slender body. White with orange on rhinophores (paired sensory organs on the head), front veil, tubercles (bumps) and gill plume. Feeds on spiral bryozoans (p. 83). Intertidal to 115’(35 m) deep.

      Noble Sea Lemon

       Doris nobilis