Phyllodesmium rudmani from Nth Sulawesi

March 20, 2007
From: Michael Pollack

Hi Bill,

I didn't believe this was a nudibranch at first, but my Lembeh Resort dive guide was very persistent. I don't even know where to start (family-wise) with this identification. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Locality: Lembeh strait, Approximately 6 meters, North Sulawesi, 16 November 2006, Muddy. Length: 2 inches. Photographer: Michael Pollack.

Thanks in advance,
Michael

michael@untamedimages.com

Pollack, M., 2007 (Mar 20) Phyllodesmium rudmani from Nth Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19688

Dear Michael,

I can understand your hesitation in thinking this is a nudibranch. It looks for all the worls like a colony of a xeniid soft coral. The clue to its identity are the two white tentacles on the left of the animal, in your photo. They are the rhinophores, or head tentacles, of an aeolid nudibranch Phyllodesmium rudmani which has only recently been named. Have a look at the species Fact Sheet, and earlier messages, for more information on this species.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Mar 20). Comment on Phyllodesmium rudmani from Nth Sulawesi by Michael Pollack. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19688

Factsheet

Phyllodesmium rudmani

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