Phyllodesmium magnum - size?

April 10, 2002
From: Valda Fraser

Dear Bill
This has been worrying me, so I thought I might as well clear it up with you. Your images of Phyllodesmium magnum are huge i.e. 110 and 130 mm - definitely living up to the name you gave them. The problem is that the ones that live here [see earlier message] are less than half that size. Is it common for a particular species to vary so radically in size from locality to locality?
Valda Fraser

valdafraser@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2002 (Apr 10) Phyllodesmium magnum - size?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4493

Dear Valda,
No it certainly is not that common. Although it is possible that they don't grow as large in South Africa, or large ones are usually eaten, or you haven't seen a large one yet, the other possibility is that your animal is not P. magnum. I would need to have a look at its anatomy to be sure. Perhaps you were right in thinking it was P. hyalinum. It would be interesting to know what it feeds on.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Apr 10). Comment on Phyllodesmium magnum - size? by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4493

Factsheet

Phyllodesmium magnum

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