Philinopsis pilsbryi from Hawaii

Dear Scott,
Thanks for the photo from Hawaii, and the others from the Marshall Ids.

Certainly the white colour form of Philinopsis reticulata looks very similar to P. pilsbryi, but there is always bluish areas on P. reticulata, especially on the inside edge on the anterior part of the parapodia. Another distinguishing feature, is that in P. reticulata the reticulate pattern is also present on the sole of the foot, while it is usually absent in P. pilsbryi, although there can sometimes be a few black streaks.

This photo from Hawaii, in which the headshield and posterior shield/mantle cavity region, are black with a row of irregular white spots down the dorsal midline, illustrates what is probably the common colour form in Hawaii. This colour form has been named P. alboventralis Bergh, 1897 and Philinopsis nigra, Pease, 1860. The validity of these names is discussed in Rudman,(1972).

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.