Flabellina exoptata
Gosliner & Willan, 1991
Photographed by: Indra Swari
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Opisthobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Aeolidina |
| Family: | Flabellinidae |
| Species: | Flabellina exoptata |
Comment from Neville Coleman on photo #648
Very common from Japan, Indonesia and Hawaii to Fiji and Vanuatu this species feeds on hydroids. It grows to about 25 mmLocality:
- Indonesia
- Lembeh (44) Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Bali (19) Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Nov, Dec
- Raja Ampat (13) Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Bunaken (11) Mar, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Manado (7) Feb, May, Jun, Sep
- North Sulawesi (6) Apr, May, Jun
- Sanghiang, West Java (5) Jun, Nov
- Karimunjawa (3) Aug
- Komodo (3) Jul, Sep
- Flores (3) May, Sep
- Bangka North Sulawesi (2) Sep, Nov
- Ambon (2) Jan, Apr
- Sangeang Island (2) Sep
- Alor (2) Oct, Nov
- Wakatobi (2) Apr, May
- Pulau Seribu (1) Apr
- Maratua (1) Aug
- Halmahera (1) Apr
- Misool (1) Apr
- Sangalaki (1) May
- Fakfak (1) Jun
- Sumbawa (1) Sep
- Lombok (1) Nov
- East Java (1) Mar
- Taka Bonerate (1) Dec
- Philippines
- Anilao (18) Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Puerto Galera (9) Jan, Feb, May, Jul, Aug, Nov, Dec
- Malapascua (6) Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct
- Panglao (3) Jan, Mar, Dec
- Dauin (2) Jul, Sep
- Coron (2) Nov
- Cabilao Island (1) Feb
- Dumaguete (1) Mar
- Philippines (1) Mar
- Romblon (1) Mar
- Davao (1) Dec
- Malaysia
- Perhentian (7) May, Jun, Aug
- Tenggol (7) May, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Tioman (6) Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Malaysia (6) Jun, Sep, Oct
- Sabah (5) Jan, Mar, Jun, Dec
- Sipadan (4) Apr, Jun, Dec
- Redang (3) Aug, Sep, Oct
- Miri (3) Jul, Dec
- Aur - Dayang (2) Apr, Jun
- Lang Tengah Island (1) May
- Kapalai (1) Jan
- Mabul (1) Aug
- Lankayan (1) Mar
- Kenya
- Malindi (7) Jul, Aug, Sep
- Kilifi Creek (3) Feb, Oct
- Watamu (1) Dec
- Thailand
- Similan Islands (5) Apr, Nov, Dec
- Phuket (4) May, Aug, Oct
- Koh Phi Phi (4) Sep, Oct, Dec
- Thailand (1) May
- Koh Bon (1) Apr
- Palau
- Palau (5) Mar, Dec
- Taiwan
- North East Coast (4) May, Jul, Aug
- Taiwan (1) Jan
- Long Dong (1) Jun
- Micronesia
- Kosrae (4) Apr, Oct
- USA
- Oahu, Hawaii (3) Apr, Nov
- Kauai, Hawaii (1) Dec
- PNG
- Réunion
- Réunion (3) May
- Vietnam
- Nha Trang (2) May, Sep
- Vietnam (2) Feb, May
- Whale Island (1) Jun
- Mexico
- Mexico (2) Aug
- Venezuela
- Fiji
- Fiji (2) Feb, Nov
- India
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands (1) Feb
- India (1) Mar
- Guam
- Guam (1) Oct
- Hospital Point (1) Nov
- Agat Bay (1) Nov
- Solomon Islands
- Solomon Islands (1) Aug
- Australia
- Great Barrier Reef (1) Nov
- Queensland (1) May
- Ningaloo Reef (1) Jun
- Myanmar
- Myanmar (1) Nov
- Timor-Leste
- Timor-Leste (1) Jan
- French Polynesia
- Fakarava (1) Jul
Pictures of Flabellina exoptata
Similar Species
Author: Richard Willan
Flabellina exoptata. Its consistent characters are the vivid orange rhinophores with numerous papillae on the posterior side and the central purple (or bluish violet) ring on the cerata.
Flabellina rubrolineata also has papillae on its rhinophores, but it has 3 longitudinal stripes on its body.
Flabellina delicata also has papillae on its rhinophores, but it has a purplish body and oral tentacles, and the tips of the cerata are dark purple.
Flabellina macassarana has lamellate rhinophores (i.e., numerous plate-like folds). It has a translucent pinkish to purplish white body, and the tips of the cerata are burnt orange.
