Phyllodesmium opalescens
Rudman, 1991

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Hong Kong - probably more widespread.

PHOTO

Hong Kong. LOWER LEFT: 12 Apr 1983 - S. Flat Reef, Tolo Channel. UPPER RIGHT: 12 Apr 1983 - S. Flat Reef, Tolo Channel. LOWER RIGHT: 14 Apr 1983 - E Pak Sha Chau, Mirs Bay. PHOTOS: Bernard Picton.

Characterised by a series of white marks down the midline and a bluish region near the end of the cerata, rhinophores and oral tentacles which are all capped with white or cream yellow. The radular morphology is also unique and the unbranched digestive gland duct in the cerata indicates that this species does not have a zooxanthellae symbiosis. I have no records of the length of living animals, but preserved specimens reach about 20mm.

References:
• Rudman, W.B. (1981) The anatomy and biology of alcyonarian feeding aeolid opisthobranch molluscs and their development of symbiosis with zooxanthellae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 72: 219-262.
• Rudman, W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 57(2): 167-203.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (March 7) Phyllodesmium opalescens Rudman, 1991. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/phylopal

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