Phyllodesmium briareum from Japan

November 29, 1999
From: Rie Nakano


Dear Bill,

This nudibranch is found at Hachijo Island, Japan, by Mr Syouichi Kato.

I found over 10 individuals, They were all on the coral. They look very much like this coral polyp. I have never seen this species except on this Island.

Could you please identify this.

Length: 10-20mm, Depth: 15m, Water temp: 23.6 degrees.
UPPER PHOTO: Rie Nakano
LOWER PHOTO: Ms.K Suzuki

Sincerely,
Rie

rie@street.ne.jp

Nakano, R., 1999 (Nov 29) Phyllodesmium briareum from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1591

Dear Rie,
This is the very interesting aeolid Phyllodesmium briareum. Like other species of Phyllodesmium it feeds on soft corals and is certainly very well camouflaged.

It is reported to feed on a number of species of briareid soft coral including Solenopodium stelleri and Briareum stecheri (sensu MacFadyen, 1936). It is also reported from Pachyclavularia violacea a mat forming soft coral with purplish trunks and greenish brown polyps each with a bright white oral disk. From the purple trunks of the soft corals, I suspect that the animals in your photo are on a colony of Pachyclavularia violacea.

The name briareus was apparently given to it by Bergh because of its association with the soft coral Briareum. A good photo of it, and of Pachyclavularia violacea with extended polyps, can be found in Gosliner, Behrens & Williams, (1996) Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific.

As you will see from the top of the page, P. briareum is one of the species of Phyllodesmium which has a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthella.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Nov 29). Comment on Phyllodesmium briareum from Japan by Rie Nakano. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1591

Factsheet

Phyllodesmium briareum

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