Photos of Okenia rosacea - Hopkins' Rose

Hi Kevin,

Gorgeous photos. Yes the gills and rhinophores are often difficult to see, leading to many identifying this species as an aeolid nudibranch. Once you see the typical dorid gill plume it is quite obvious.

Now for a nomenclature review. We don't usually use the term 'cerata' for cerata-like structures in dorid nudibranchs. We usually refer to them as 'dorsal papillae'. To be very precise, cerata is usually restricted to the aeolid nudibranchs, where they carry a branch of the liver diverticulum up into their tips. However the term 'cerata' has become widely used for cerata-like structures in many opisthobranchs including the sacoglossans and some non-dorid nudibranchs. Like wings, which have evolved independently in birds, insects, bats etc, not all 'cerata' are the same

The branched papillae in your photo are curious. Anomalies happen. Good observation however. In your close-up of the head, we can clearly see the detail of the rhinophores and even count the 28 lamellae.

Although I really disdain common names, this is one that is special to those of us on this coast. Originally described in the genus, Hopkinsia, referring to Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey, California, where the describer, Dr. Frank Mace MacFarland worked for many of his very productive years. While the nudibranch name is now placed in Okenia where it systematically belongs, another species still carries reference to the marine lab. That species is the the xanthophyll produced by the nudibranch, named Hopkinsiaxanthin, that gives it it's bright pink color.

Thanks for sharing,
Dave Behrens