Phyllidia alyta
Yonow, 1996

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Phyllidiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Western Indian Ocean - known from Maldives and Mauritius.

PHOTO

Maldive Islands. UPPER: 44 mm long, depth 14 m, Bandos Is., divesite "Banana Reef", Oct. 28, 1999
LOWER: 34 mm long, depth 12 m, Olhahali Is., divesite "The Wall", Oct. 31, 1999. PHOTOS: Erwin Koehler.

This species is characterised by four longitudinal black bands which rarely meet. The inner pair run from behind the rhinophores to just in front of the anal papilla. Between them is the median row of tubercles which are usually tipped with orange/yellow. There is then a second row of tubercles on each side which are rarely tipped in yellow/orange. Outside this row is the second black line on each side which runs from the anterior edge of the mantle back to behind the anal papilla. The there is also usually a black tranverse band between the rhinophores. Outside the longitudinal black lines are another row of tubercles and outside that row samll irregularly scattered tubercles at the mantle edge. There is a solid black median line on the sole of the foot which is broken anteriorly into one or two patches. The rhinophores are yellow.

Reference:
• Yonow, N., (1996) Systematic Revision of the Family Phyllidiidae in the Indian Ocean Province: Part 1 (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia: Doridoidea). Journal of Conchology, 35: 483-516.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (November 23) Phyllidia alyta Yonow, 1996. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/phylalyt

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