A new phyllidiid from the Maldives

November 13, 1999
From: Erwin Koehler

Hi Bill,
Here is the first "unknown" from my recent Maldives trip:

TOP RIGHT: North Male Atoll, Himmafushi Is., divesite "Rainbow Reef" 24 m, size 11 mm, date Oct. 27, 1999. This one was found with the red sponge.
BOTTOM RIGHT: South Male Atoll, Guraidhoo Is., divesite "Guraidhoo Kandu", 23m, size 9 mm, date Oct. 24, 1999
BOTTOM LEFT: South Male Atoll, Guraidhoo Is., divesite "Guraidhoo Kandu", 21m, sizes 7 + 9 mm, date Oct. 24, 1999. three specimens at one dive!

Please excuse the poor quality - I had again troubles with my camera: all photos are excellent sharp - except the part in the center of the photos.
Erwin

Medslugs.Koehler@t-online.de

Koehler, E., 1999 (Nov 13) A new phyllidiid from the Maldives. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1519

Dear Erwin,
This looks a very interresting find. If it wasn't bright yellow I would say that it was one of the striped species of Phyllidiopsis such as P. striata or P. phiphiensis. It also has similarities in shape and colour to Phyllidia polkadotsa but that has black spots not lines. In fact the sharp ridge down either side of the mantle look just like those in P. polkadotsa.

I suspect that this is a new species. You also seem to have found its food. Altogether a good days work!

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Nov 13). Comment on A new phyllidiid from the Maldives by Erwin Koehler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1519

Factsheet

Phyllidia koehleri

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