Atypical Phyllidia alyta from Reunion Island

November 12, 2008
From: Hugues Flodrops

Concerning message #8270:

Hi Bill,
Here is a specimen I think is an atypical Phyllidia alyta. There are four longitudinal black bands but there is yellow only on each rhinophore and the anal papilla. Excuse me, I forgot to take a picture of the foot with black median line.

Locality: Sec Jaune, Saint-Leu, 12 metres, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, 3 November 2008. Length: 30 mm. Photographer: Hugues Flodrops.

Regards.
Hugues.

hugues.flodrops@wanadoo.fr

Flodrops,H., 2008 (Nov 12) Atypical Phyllidia alyta from Reunion Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22021

Dear Hugues,

Certainly if it has a black line on the sole of the foot there would be little doubt of its identity. Even without that information, it certainly fits what we know about this species. Since your animal lacks yellow-tipped tubercles, we are fortunate that its yellow rhinophores are visible, otherwise it would have been difficult to distinguish from some species of Phyllidiella.

It is interesting to note the yellow colouration of the anal papilla. Quite a few of the earlier photos of this species on the Forum show this as well.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Nov 12). Comment on Atypical Phyllidia alyta from Reunion Island by Hugues Flodrops. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22021

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