Phyllodesmium magnum from Japan

November 23, 1999
From: Yasuhiro Shirai

Dear Bill,
Thank you for quick reply.

Today, I attached some pictures. I think they are of Phyllodesmium magnum.
What do you think? I would appreciate your comments.

PHOTO 36: I saw it at Kushimoto, Japan.
It was on a rocky reef, depth -13m, water temperature 23.8C, 130mm length, July 1999.
PHOTO36-1 is zoom picture of its head.

PHOTO 81: From same diving point, on rocky reef, depth -10m, water temperature 23.0C, 100mm length, November 1999. PHOTO 81-1 is zoom picture of its head.

Best regards.

Yasuhiro Shirai.
http://www.e-net.or.jp/user/yasuhiro/

yasuhiro@e-net.or.jp

Shirai, Y., 1999 (Nov 23) Phyllodesmium magnum from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1566

Dear Yasuhiro,
Yes your animals are Phyllodesmium magnum which appears to be widely spread in the Western Pacific. Although no physiological studies have been undertaken on this species, the large flattened cerata, the greatly branched digestive gland, and the concentration of zooxanthellae in cells near the dorsal surface of the animal suggest that this species is also "solar powered".

Your photo 36-1 clearly shows the yellowish edge to the foot, and at the bottom of photo 81 I am pretty sure that the soft coral you can see is Sinularia which is the soft coral I reported it being associated with in Western Australia (Rudman, 1991).
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Nov 23). Comment on Phyllodesmium magnum from Japan by Yasuhiro Shirai. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1566

Factsheet

Phyllodesmium magnum

Related messages

  1. Phyllodesmium from Lembeh, Indonesia
    From: Brian Mayes, March 2, 2009
  2. Phyllodesmium magnum from Nhatrang, Vietnam
    From: Hua Thai Tuyen, June 5, 2008
  3. Re: Phyllodesmium magnum on Sinularia
    From: Gary Cobb, April 4, 2008
  4. Re: Phyllodesmium magnum on Sinularia
    From: Gary Cobb, April 4, 2008
  5. Phyllodesmium magnum juveniles
    From: Gary Cobb, April 3, 2008
  6. Re: Phyllodesmium magnum on Sinularia
    From: Gary Cobb, April 3, 2008
  7. Phyllodesmium magnum on Sinularia soft coral
    From: David Mullins, October 17, 2007
  8. Phyllodesmium magnum - trailing observation
    From: Jean-François Hervé, September 5, 2006
  9. Phyllodesmium magnum pair from the Red Sea
    From: Binyamin Koretz, October 13, 2005
  10. Phyllodesmium magnum from Elat, the Red Sea
    From: Matan Ninio, April 13, 2005
  11. Re: Phyllodesmium magnum from Thailand
    From: Paul Whitehead, January 25, 2004
  12. Re: Phyllodesmium magnum from Thailand
    From: Paul Whitehead, January 23, 2004
  13. Phyllodesmium magnum on Sinularia
    From: Cameron Bee, January 17, 2003
  14. Phyllodesmium magnum from the Marshall Islands
    From: Scott Johnson, September 11, 2002
  15. Unknown reef tank inhabitant
    From: Dean Burchell, July 23, 2002
  16. Reef Tank Hitchhiker
    From: Mike Nolette, May 21, 2002
  17. Phyllodesmium magnum - size?
    From: Valda Fraser, April 10, 2002
  18. Food of orange Phyllodesmium magnum
    From: Leslie Chan, September 11, 2001
  19. An orange Phyllodesmium magnum from Hong Kong
    From: Leslie Chan, September 9, 2001
  20. Phyllodesmium magnum from Queensland
    From: Nigel Holmes, July 10, 2001
  21. Phyllodesmium magnum from South Africa
    From: Valda Fraser, May 26, 2001
  22. Phyllodesmium magnum from Hong Kong
    From: Bernard Picton , March 4, 2001

Show factsheet and all related messages