(Alder & Hancock, 1842)
Description:
Despite its name, this attractive species is not usually pale in colour, but it is well-camouflaged and likely to be missed. The maximal length may reach 23 mm and the pattern is composed of brown, red, orange, gold and white markings on a translucent grey-white background. The sides and back are mottled with red or brown (never olive green) and there may also be some white and orange blotches. The inflated cerata are arranged in up to 10 rows, with up to 7 cerata in each half-row. Each ceras contains a pale to medium brown hepatic lobule. Externally, the ceratal epidermis exhibits a pale distal tip, then a subterminal white area partially obscuring the cnidosac; over part of this white zone is a conspicuous golden ring. The remainder of the ceras exhibits superficial white specks and red or rich brown blotches. The tentacles each have a white tip, orange-brown basal mottling and a conspicuous dark band.
Habitat:
The diet consists of hydroids, such as Obelia geniculata , O. longissima , Sertularia cupressina , Hydrallmania falcata , Tubularia indivisa , T. larynx and Hydractinia echinata .
Distribution:
There are records from the British isles, Norway, the Netherlands, Atlantic coasts of France, the western Mediterranean Sea, and the American New England coast (Distr. E. pallidus).