Telling Predaceous Aeolid (Coryphella trophina) from the Red-fingered (Coryphella verrucosa) apart is just about impossible without close examination. They appear to be almost identical. They are found feeding in the same territory and their primary prey (hydroids) appears to be the same as well. Add to this the fact that both have undergone numerous taxon changes in the past few years and it can be quite baffling. I suggest that if you are confused, it is a good idea to throw an image out to the inaturalist community and see where you get. In my humble opinion, and the opinion of a few experts the aeolids pictured below are Coryphella trophinas. For now, I will go with that. They tend to be a little less red than the Coryphella verrucosa, have larger rostrums (noses) and shorter rhinophores and tails. Good luck. Some of the individuals photographed here are as small as 5 mm (1/4″). Others are as large as 25 mm (1 inch). In the intertidal zone, they tend to be very small. There has been some recent research that suggests that the C. trophina also feeds on worms and other nudibranchs. There are also some excellent photos of the tongue-like nostrum found on these animals.
