Fryeria larryi
Brunckhorst, 1993
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Phyllidiidae
DISTRIBUTION
Known from Guam
PHOTO
8 m depth, Bile Bay, Guam, 22 Sept. 1973, dorsal view of holotype (6 mm), Photo: C. Carlson & P. Hoff (Brunckhorst, 1993: Plate 4G).
Notes compiled from Brunckhorst, 1993:
Fryeria larryi is distinctive and can be recognised easily by its yellow coloration and the red, transverse markings on the notum. It is the only species of Fryeria with yellow ventral coloration. No other species of Fryeria has yellow gills.
The only other Fryeria species which does not possess black pigmentation is Fryeria bayi. Fryeria bayi is also a small species, but it is cream-white in colour with a brownish mottled pattern, and it has white rhinophores with three very oblique lamellae. These features clearly separate F. bayi from F. larryi. Phyllidia zebrina is superficially similar to the present species, however it possesses a pale cream coloration with brownish markings, larger tubercles (minute in Fryeria larryi) and a dorsal anus.
NOTE: See Soichi Matsukawa's photos and subsequent discussion on relationship between this species and Phyllidia zebrina.
Reference:
• Brunckhorst, D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 15) Fryeria larryi Brunckhorst, 1993. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/fryelarr
