Phyllidiella zeylanica from Papua New Guinea?

June 7, 2000
From: Mary Jane Adams

Dear Bill,

Here are photos of two slugs that are very similar to the Phyllidiella cf rudmani I sent you previously. Both animals are pinkish beige with multiple single lighter colored tubercles. The pattern of black lines is also very similar.
The rhinophores are black with a band of light pink at the base.

The slug in # 50032a and # 50032b was found in a coral rubble patch on a reef on the north side or the northern arm of Milne Bay, PNG. Length, 40 mm, Depth, 10 meters. May 25, 2000.

The slug in #119735 was crawling over hard coral on a reef in the Russell group of the Solomon Islands Nov. 11, 1997. Length about 35 mm, depth unrecorded.

Since these three slugs are so much alike and were found at different sites, it makes me wonder they are a separate species rather than atypical Phyllidiella rudmani. What do you think?
Regards,
Mary Jane

mjdams@earthlink.net

Adams. M.J., 2000 (Jun 7) Phyllidiella zeylanica from Papua New Guinea?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2512

Dear Mary Jane,
The problem with Phyllidiella rudmani and Phyllidiella lizae, (which has diagonal black cross patterns like these photos), is that their rhinophore clubs are black and pink whereas in these photos the club is black although the stalk may be pink. I suspect that the three earlier photos may represent more than one species.

One species these latest photos are very similar to in external appearance is Phyllidiella zeylanica which does have black rhinophores. However at present it is only known from the Indian Ocean. If your animals are this species then it will the first record from the Pacific. I must admit though that some of the Phyllidiella group are proving to be rather problematical.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B, 2000 (Jun 7). Comment on Phyllidiella zeylanica from Papua New Guinea? by Mary Jane Adams. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2512

Factsheet

Phyllidiella zeylanica

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