Fryeria guamensis
Brunckhorst, 1993

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Phyllidiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from Micronesia., [Also reported on Sea Slug Forum from Northern Mariana Islands and possibly Marquesas Ids.]

PHOTO

3 m depth, Sella Bay, Guam, 29 July 1970, dorsal view of 32 mm specimen, Photo: C. Carlson & P. Hoff (Brunckhorst, 1993: Plate 4F).

Notes compiled from Brunckhorst, 1993:
Fryeria guamensis is characterised by: the alternating series of large mid-dorsal tubercles; the numerous, minute, isolated tubercles around the mantle margin; rounded tubercles which are capped in pale yellow; low rhinotubercles; and very dark oral tentacles with pale yellow tips.

Fryeria guamensis is easily separated from congeners such as Fryeria rueppelii, Fryeria menindie and Fryeria marindica because it has neither a semicircular pattern nor black rays extending to the mantle edge. Fryeria rueppelli has a yellow orange edge to the mantle margin. Fryeria guamensis also lacks the low ridges of the other three species and it has no broad white areas (as in F. rueppelii), or blue coloration (as in F. menindie and F. marindica) on the dorsum. For similar sized specimens, F. guamensis has a greater number of lamellae on the rhinophoral clavus than F. rueppelii, but fewer than F. marindica.

Reference:
• Brunckhorst, D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 15) Fryeria guamensis Brunckhorst, 1993. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/fryeguam

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