Phyllodesmium from Pulau Aur, Malaysia

June 26, 2002
From: Barbara Phua


Hi Bill,
I spotted this nudibranch in the waters off Teluk Jawa, Pulau Aur, west Malaysia last weekend. It was the first time I saw this species of nudibranch there. Can you help me to ID it?
Barbara

babalapan@hotmail.com

Phua, B., 2002 (Jun 26) Phyllodesmium from Pulau Aur, Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7338

Dear Barbara,
I am pretty sure this is Phyllodesmium briareum. If you look at the Fact Sheet on this species you will see that it is 'solar-powered' and keeps brown zooxanthellae in its cerata and the skin of its body. The zooxanthellae give it is brown colour. Eventually the zooxanthellae in the skin die and can only be replaced by eating the right soft coral. Until they feed again, the nudibranch can become quite pale, like yours are. So I suspect your photos are of a 'hungry'Phyllodesmium briareum.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jun 26). Comment on Phyllodesmium from Pulau Aur, Malaysia by Barbara Phua. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7338

Factsheet

Phyllodesmium briareum

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