Phyllidiopsis loricata from Hawaii

September 24, 2003
From: Keoki Stender


Hi Bill,
I've found two similar-looking phyllidiids in Hawaii.

Last week [September 2003] I found what looks like Phyllidiopsis loricata in a cave at Pupukea on the north shore of Oahu. The depth was 7m. According to your notes it is not reported from Hawaii.

In a separate message I have reported on the very similar-looking Phyllidia scottjohnsoni which was taken at Midway Atoll in a cave at 15m. They are quite common there but I've never seen one here in the main islands.
Thanks,

Keoki Stender

fishpicshi@yahoo.com

Stender, K., 2003 (Sep 24) Phyllidiopsis loricata from Hawaii. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11026

Dear Keoki,
This is an interesting find. Apart from the photo in Brunckhorst (1993) which is reproduced on the Fact Sheet, I don't know of any other photo of this species. The animal in that photo seems much more narrow than your animal but I suspect it is because it is apparently photographed on glass, and often animals on glass don't 'feel comfortable' and so the foot is not fully attached. I would suspect the cream sponge you have photographed this animal on is its food sponge. If you get a chance it would be useful to see if it is regularly found on this sponge, and if so, whether you can see any sign of feeding.

Concerning its distribution. As far as I know it has not been reported from Hawaii before so your record is a valuable addition to our knowledge. It has quite a wide distribution in the western Pacific so its presence in Hawaii is not surprising.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Sep 24). Comment on Phyllidiopsis loricata from Hawaii by Keoki Stender. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11026

Factsheet

Phyllidiopsis loricata

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