Another Phyllodesmium sp from Sth Africa
January 22, 2000
From: Valda Fraser
Dear Bill
On a particular day I noticed a number of nudibranchs I have not seen before. In the vicinity I found a nudibranch that looks similar. Could it be a juvenile, or is it another species altogether?
Locality: South Coast KwaZulu-Natal SOUTH AFRICA. Hibberdene 20 - 24m.
Date: June 1999
Size: 35mm/30mm
Regards
Valda Fraser
iti04937@mweb.co.za
Fraser, V., 2000 (Jan 22) Another Phyllodesmium sp from Sth Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1660Dear Valda,
I think these are both the same species and I am pretty sure that it is a species of Phyllodesmium. The branching digestive gland ducts in the cerata are quite similar to those of Phyllodesmium poindimiei as are the curved ends to the cerata. It differs from the common South African species Phyllodesmium horridum which has an unbranched ceratal digestive gland duct and a white median line down the body.
It would be intersting to see if its anatomy matched that of P. poindimiei, which at present is only known from the coasts of Australia and New Caledonia.
Bill Rudman.
Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jan 22). Comment on Another Phyllodesmium sp from Sth Africa by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1660