Triopha catalinae
Sea-clown triopha
Same Genus
Distribution
Description
Eastern Pacific species ranging from southeast Alaska to norther Gulf of California. Very similar to T. modesta, but distinguishable by having large unbranched conical or rounded tubercles on dorsum, small nodules on the dorso-lateral appendages even in larger individuals, and the color of the rhinophore and gill tip is darker than dorsal tubercles. T. modesta exhibits small and branching dorsal tubercles and arborescent dorso-lateral appendages in larger individuals, and has a trans-Pacific distribution. Both species have white-translucent bodies with orange appendages, rhinophores, and tubercles. Orange or grey-bodied colour morphs can occur.
Information
Max Size: 12 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 13.1-19.6°C
Depth: N/A
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Infrequent (2.4% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (3 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Jo Schmid