Phyllodesmium 5 or 6 from East Timor ?

February 17, 2007
From: Nick Hobgood

Dear Dr. Bill,

We ran across what looks like two translucent individuals. They look similar to both Phyllodesmium sp. 5 or Phyllodesmium sp.6 on the Forum. Are they in the same group ?

Locality: "Tasi Tolu" dive site, 12-15 meters, East Timor, Banda Sea, 17 December 2006, Sandy bottom with some soft coral cover. Length: 25 mm. Photographer: Nick Hobgood.

Nick Hobgood

nick.hobgood@mac.com

Hobgood, N., 2007 (Feb 17) Phyllodesmium 5 or 6 from East Timor ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19044

Dear Nick,
I am beginning to think that both of these, and Phyllodesmium sp. 8 are the same species. The most distinctive feature - other than the colour - is the spiral twist or kink in the end of the cerata. The only thing that makes me hesitate at present is the shape of the rhinophores, short and smooth in Phyllodesmium sp. 5; long and spiky in Phyllodesmium sp. 6; and long and smooth in Phyllodesmium sp. 8. If the rhinophores are important then I guess your animal is best placed in Phyllodesmium sp. 8, but on general shape and colour I think I will put it with Phyllodesmium sp. 6 - but you should realise that without anatomical information on any of theses 'species' it is just a guessing game.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Feb 17). Comment on Phyllodesmium 5 or 6 from East Timor ? by Nick Hobgood. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19044

Factsheet

Phyllodesmium sp. 6

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