Phyllodesmium sp. 6
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae
PHOTO
Rocky wall shallower than 10m. 20 - 30mm in size. Hachijo Island, Japan. Photo: Shouichi Kato.
Very similar in external appearance to Phyllodesmium sp. 5, but this animal has white specks over the body while Phyllodesmium sp. 5 has a distinct pattern of white lines. Also, the rhinophores have small pointed white papillae all over them while in Phyllodesmium sp. 5 they are quite smooth.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2002 (May 20) Phyllodesmium sp. 6 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/phyllodsp6
Related messages
Phyllodesmium 5 or 6 from East Timor ?
February 17, 2007
From: Nick Hobgood
Dear Dr. Bill,
We ran across what looks like two translucent individuals. They look similar to both Phyllodesmium sp. 5 or Phyllodesmium sp.6 on the Forum. Are they in the same group ?
Locality: "Tasi Tolu" dive site, 12-15 meters, East Timor, Banda Sea, 17 December 2006, Sandy bottom with some soft coral cover. Length: 25 mm. Photographer: Nick Hobgood.
Nick Hobgood
nick.hobgood@mac.com
Hobgood, N., 2007 (Feb 17) Phyllodesmium 5 or 6 from East Timor ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19044Dear Nick,
I am beginning to think that both of these, and Phyllodesmium sp. 8 are the same species. The most distinctive feature - other than the colour - is the spiral twist or kink in the end of the cerata. The only thing that makes me hesitate at present is the shape of the rhinophores, short and smooth in Phyllodesmium sp. 5; long and spiky in Phyllodesmium sp. 6; and long and smooth in Phyllodesmium sp. 8. If the rhinophores are important then I guess your animal is best placed in Phyllodesmium sp. 8, but on general shape and colour I think I will put it with Phyllodesmium sp. 6 - but you should realise that without anatomical information on any of theses 'species' it is just a guessing game.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phyllodesmium? from Hachijo Island, Japan
May 22, 2002
From: Shouichi Kato
Dear Bill,
Please see the attached picture. This rare and very beautiful Aeolid can be found on the side of rocky walls shallower than 10m.
20 - 30mm in size.
I want to know very much what this is.
Please advise. I have also sent a photo of a very similar looking aeolid in a separate message.
Regards,
S. Kato
regulus@edit.ne.jp
Kato, S., 2002 (May 22) Phyllodesmium? from Hachijo Island, Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6962Dear Shouichi,
I at first thought this was the same as your other animal, which is what I am calling Phyllodesmium sp. 5, but as you say in your separate message, there are two obvious differences. In colour, this animal has white specks over the body while Phyllodesmium sp. 5 has a distinct pattern of white lines, and in this animal the rhinophores have small pointed white papillae all over them while in Phyllodesmium sp. 5 the rhinophores are quite smooth. At this stage I am guessing this is also a species of Phyllodesmium. I will temporarily call it Phyllodesmium sp. 6.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
