Plocamopherus ocellatus
Rueppell & Leuckart, 1828

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Triophinae

DISTRIBUTION

Red Sea. Also lessepsian immigrant in Mediterranean.

PHOTO

Upper: Kas, Turkey. size: 4-5cm. Depth: 8-10m. August 1998. Photo: Ferda Buyukbayal
Lower: Original painting of Plocamopherus ocellatus. Pl.5, fig. 3a - Rüppell, E. & Leuckart, F.S. (1828)

Originally described from Tor, Egypt, Red Sea, it is recorded below from Turkey, and previously from Israel. This species has seldom been found since its original description. It is the type species of the genus Plocamopherus. It is black with bright yellow spots all over the body. The gills are black with a few small yellow spots, while the rhinophores are completely black. It is similar in general shape to other species of the genus and has a prominent 'keel' or 'caudal fin' in the posterior dorsal midline. It differs from other species of the genus in the nature of the latero-dorsal processes. Usually there are three pairs, and the most posterior pair, at least, are tipped with a large sphere [see Plocamopherus imperialis]. From Rüppell & Leuckart's illustration, and Ferda's photo, there appears to be only two pairs of latero-dorsal processes in P. ocellatus and these are elongately conical in shape.

Reference:
• Rüppell, E. & Leuckart, F.S. (1828) Neue wirbellose Thiere des Rothen Meeres. Atlas zu der Reise im nördlichen Afrika von Eduard Rüppell. Brunner, Frankfurt am Main. 1-22, pls 1-6 pages.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (November 26) Plocamopherus ocellatus Rueppell & Leuckart, 1828 . [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/plococel

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