Phyllidiella annulata
(Gray, 1853)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Phyllidiidae
DISTRIBUTION
Known from the Red Sea, tropical Indian Ocean and central-western Pacific Ocean.
PHOTO
: 9 m depth, Asan Bay, Guam, 9 July 1988, dorsal view of 31 mm specimen (Brunckhorst, 1993: Plate 5G); 3 m depth, Bile Bay, Guam, 28 June 1988, dorsal view of 28 mm specimen (Brunckhorst, 1993: Plate 5H).
Notes compiled from Brunckhorst, 1993:
Phyllidiella annulata has a distinctive dorsal pattern consisting of numerous pink rings (with small, low tubercles) on a black background. Records show that P. annulata attains a smaller size (approximately half) than Phyllidiella pustulosa . Phyllidiella annulata lacks compound tubercles (as in P. pustulosa and Phyllidiella zeylanica, tubercular clusters (P. pustulosa), and ridges of tubercles (P. zeylanica). Phyllidia ocellata also differs in having yellow coloration.
Brunckhorst (1993) considered Phyllidiella meandrina and Phyllidiella sudanensis to be synonyms of P. annulata - but see message suggesting that P. meandrina is a distinct species. See also Phyllidiella cf. annulata.
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 (September 11) Phyllidiella annulata (Gray, 1853). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/phylannu
Related messages
Re: Phyllidiella annulata from Nthn Mariana Ids [2]
August 18, 2009
From: Yuji Fujie
Concerning message #2922:
Dear Dr.Bill,
This animal is color variation of Phyllidiella annulata. [see message #22550].
Locality: Wing Beach, 6 m, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean, 29 May 2007, on dead coral covered with algae and sponge. Length: 20mm. Photographer: Yuji Fujie.
Best regards,
Yuji
scuba.element@gmail.com
Yuji Fujie, 2009 (Aug 18) Re: Phyllidiella annulata from Nthn Mariana Ids [2]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22551
Thanks Yuji,
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Phyllidiella annulata from Nthn Mariana Ids [1]
August 18, 2009
From: Yuji Fujie
Concerning message #2922:
Dear Dr. Bill,
Phyllidiella annulata is very common in Saipan. We can also find a colour variation as well. I have sent some photos separately [message #22551 ]
Locality: Naftan, 12 m, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean, 4 January 2009, On dead coral covered with algae and sponge. Length: 20 mm. Photographer: Yuji Fujie.
Best regards,
Yuji
scuba.element@gmail.com
Yuji Fujie, 2009 (Aug 18) Re: Phyllidiella annulata from Nthn Mariana Ids [1]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22550
Dear Yuji,
We have very few records of this species so the photos in your two messages showing a range of variation are very valuable.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phyllidiella annulata from Thailand
August 25, 2000
From: Narongpon Sittithaweepat
Dear Bill
This specimen is Phyllidiella sp. I found it in 50-60 feet at Chomporn, Thailand . Its size is 2 cm. So could you please identify it for me.
Thank you
Narongpon
ning@talaythai.com
Sittithaweepat, N., 2000 (Aug 25) Phyllidiella annulata from Thailand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2922Dear Narongpon,
This is Phyllidiella annulata. Most illustrated specimens are much brighter pink than your animal, but it seems that some species of Phyllidiella, like Phyllidiella pustulosa, can range in colour, or even change colour from a bright pink to a dull green. One other difference is that in your animal the 'rings' in the centre of the mantle do not have a black 'hole' in the centre, but you can see a dull gray spot in the centre.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
