Phyllidiopsis cardinalis from East Timor

July 10, 2006
From: Nick Hobgood

Bill,

Can you please help us with the ID of this slug. This is the first time we've seen this one here.

Locality: Town, 18 meters, East Timor, Banda, 08 July 2006, Sandy bottom. Length: 6 cm . Photographer: Nick Hobgood.

Thanks
Nick Hobgood

nick.hobgood@mac.com

Hobgood, N., 2006 (Jul 10) Phyllidiopsis cardinalis from East Timor. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17090

Dear Nick,
I am glad to see the recent troubles haven't caused you to leave East Timor. This is Phyllidiopsis cardinalis. I don't know if you picked it up or not, but it is bright yellow underneath. It would be interesting to know something about the chemistry of this species as it is one of the few species of the Phyllidiidae which has a cryptic colouration. As you will know, most species of Phyllidia and Phyllidiella are blatantly coloured and are often the only nudibranchs out in the open during the day, suggesting they have no need to hide from hungry fish. We consider that the main reason for this is the extremely distasteful chemicals they store in their skin, and obtain from the sponges they feed on.

It would be very interesting to know what sponge this species feeds on, and whether it, or P. cardinalis, has a store of distasteful chemicals.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jul 10). Comment on Phyllidiopsis cardinalis from East Timor by Nick Hobgood. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17090

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Phyllidiopsis cardinalis

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