Philinopsis gigliolii
Tapparone-Canefri, 1874

Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Superfamily: PHILINOIDEA
Family: Aglajidae

DISTRIBUTION

NW Pacific [Japan, China, Russia]

PHOTO

Peter the Great Bay, Russia [Sea of Japan]. Approx. 30mm long. Photo: A. Ratnikov

Philinopsis gigliolii is one of a number of similarly coloured species found in temperate parts of the Pacific. As in Philinopsis troubridgensis and Philinopsis taronga, P. gigliolii had a mottled or reticulate brown pattern on an essentially translucent background. In all species there are patches of yellow. P. gigliolii was originally described from Japan, and there have been few subsequent sightings. This is probably a consequence of its burrowing lifestyle rather than evidence of rarity as most temperate species of the genus are difficult to find. Chaban et al report it feeding on the shelled cephalaspid Cylichnatys angusta.

References:
• Chaban E., M., Martynov A. V. (1998) Melanochlamys diomedea (Bergh, 1893) (Opisthobranchia: Aglajidae), a new genus and species in the fauna of Russia. Ruthenica, 8(2): 147-152 (in Russian).
• Lin Guangyu, Ma Xiutong, Zhang Fusui. (1986) Zoological Encyclopedia of China, Mollusca 3. (Ed. Tsi Chung-Yen). Sci. Publication Publishing: 97 p.
• Rudman W. B. 1972. A comparative study of the genus Philinopsis Pease, 1860 (Aglajidae, Opisthobranchia). Pacific Science, 26: 381-399.
• Tapparone-Canefri C. (1874) Zoologia del viaggio intorno al globo della regia fregata Magenta duranto gli anni 1865-68. Malacologia (Gastropodi, Acefali e Brachiopodi). Stamperia reale di G.B.Paravia e Comp., Torino: 152 p.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2003 (March 30) Philinopsis gigliolii Tapparone-Canefri, 1874. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/philgigl

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