Phyllidia multifaria? from the Red Sea

March 25, 2006
From: Binyamin Koretz

Dear Bill,
Nathalie Yonow, who described this species 20 years ago, was kind enough to identify the attached photos (from a year ago) as Phyllidia multifaria. She also pointed out to me the positioning of the anus, which is quite apparent in these photos, as a good way to distinguish this species from the more abundant and similarly colored Fryeria rueppelii.

Locality: Eilat, Dekel Beach, 24m , Israel, Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat), 25 February 2005, coral reef. Length: ca 4 cm. Photographer: Binyamin and Shulamit Koretz.

Best regards
Binyamin

binyamin@koretz.net

Koretz, B., 2006 (Mar 25) Phyllidia multifaria? from the Red Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16128

Thanks Binyamin,
I hesitate to disagree with Nathalie but unfortunately I don't think she has correctly identified your animals. In her original description she definitely describes the background colour in P. multifaria to be pink and black, while your animal has a very bluish appearance. The other thing is that unless you actually saw a hole at the end of the 'anal papillae' I am not convinced that the ringed object is an anal papillae.  I wouldn't be surprised if it is a yellow tipped tubercle. It is frustrating having only your photos to look at but I would be very surprised if that is an anal papilla.

Unfortunately neither of your photos show the edge of the mantle so I can't see if there is a yellow border which is characteristic of Fryeria rueppelii, but my feeling is that  is what this is. If you have photos that show the edge they would be useful. Phyllidia multifaria was considered by Brunckhorst to be a synonym of P. elegans but as your will see on the P. multifaria Fact Sheet its identity is still being debated. However none of the specimens considered to be 'perhaps' P. multifaria have a colour palette or pattern like your animal.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Mar 25). Comment on Phyllidia multifaria? from the Red Sea by Binyamin Koretz. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16128

Factsheet

Fryeria rueppelii

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