Phyllidia elegans from Papua New Guinea

July 11, 1999
From: Des Paroz

Dear Bill

I recently when on a dive holiday in Papua New Guinea (Kavieng & Wallindi) May 1999, and whilst there took a couple of pictures of nudibranchs which I am currently trying to identify for my DIVESITE at http://www.divesite.paroz.com.

Here is one of them. Could you identify it for me please.

Best regards

Des Paroz

des@paroz.com

Paroz, D., 1999 (Jul 11) Phyllidia elegans from Papua New Guinea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1035

Dear Des,
This is Phyllidia elegans which is quite common throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Phyllidiids are one of the few groups of nudibranchs the are common during the day on coral reefs and it is thought that the noxious chemicals they have in their skin protects them from predatory fish.

I thought at first the nudibranch was crawling on a finger sponge but on second thoughts it seems to be the fire coral Millepora. If so, its an interesting place for it to be crawling as the nematocysts of Millepora can be quite fierce.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Jul 11). Comment on Phyllidia elegans from Papua New Guinea by Des Paroz. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1035

Factsheet

Phyllidia elegans

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