Unknown Phyllidiid from Solomon Ids

January 5, 2001
From: Mary Jane Adams


Hi Bill,
I found this nudibranch in the Florida Group of the Solomon Islands on a divesite known as Twin Tunnels. This is a mixed hard and soft coral covered pinnacle that arises from deep water to about 15 meters on top. The two tunnels begin on top of the reef and open out on a vertical wall at 31 meters. This phyllidiid was sitting on a sponge inside one of the tunnels at 28 meters. The mantle is light blue. With my 8x loupe the blue appears to be closely arranged speckles. The mantle has three ridges which join near the caudal end. There are rounded white tubercles on the the ridges as well as laterally on the mantle. Black lines divide the ridges and form some branches which extend toward the edge of the mantle. There are additional black lines between the lateral tubercles. A narrow white band surrounds the edge of the mantle. The rhinophores are light yellow. I did not find a picture of a phyllidiid like this in any of my books. The closest one I found was the image Phyllidiopsis sphingis on your website.
Length: about 35 mm
Water temp: 84 F
November 17, 2000
Can you ID this one?
Best regards,
Mary Jane

divepng@yahoo.com

Adams, M.J., 2001 (Jan 5) Unknown Phyllidiid from Solomon Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3427

Dear Mary Jane,
I am pretty sure that this is just a pale animal of Phyllidia varicosa. If you brightened the pale areas up with a bit of yellow you would have a perfectly respectable Phyllidia varicosa. I sometimes come across these 'washed-out' animals. It just seems to be a lack of yellow pigment.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jan 5). Comment on Unknown Phyllidiid from Solomon Ids by Mary Jane Adams. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3427

Factsheet

Phyllidia varicosa

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