Phestilla melanobrachia
Bergh, 1874
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Tergipedidae
PHOTO
Upper Right: On eaten colony of Tubastrea. Passe Deverd, outer Barrier Reef, near Koumac, New Caledonia, 20°44.7'S, 164°15.5'E, 15m, outside of reef, coral slabs, 13 October 1993, many specimens (20, 22 & 30mm, most 47mm long alive). Lower Left: egg masses laid on dead Tubastrea. AM C200460. Photos: Bill Rudman.
This relatively large aeolid (to 40mm long), has been recorded from southern Japan, and Hawaii, to northeastern Australia, suggesting a western Pacific distribution. It has both black and bright orange-yellow colour forms, the colour matching the colour of the dendrophylliid coral (Tubastrea, Dendrophyllia) on which specimens are feeding. Often mispelt melanobranchia, Bergh likening the cerata to 'arms' - brachia, rather than 'gills' - branchia.
References:
• Harris, L.G. (1968) Notes on the biology and distribution of the aeolid nudibranch (Gastropoda), Phestilla melanobrachia Bergh, 1874. Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 16: 193-198,2Pls.
• Harris, L.G. (1975) Studies on the life history of two coral-eating nudibranchs of the genus Phestilla. Biol. Bull., 149(3): 539-550.
• Rudman, W.B. (1981a) Further studies on the anatomy and ecology of opisthobranch molluscs feeding on the scleractinian coral Porites. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 71: 373-412.
See Coral Feeding page for more information.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (July 10) Phestilla melanobrachia Bergh, 1874. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/phesmela
Related messages
-
Who can identify?
From: Carmen Obrist, December 23, 2009 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Indonesia
From: Helene Caillaud, November 25, 2009 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Thailand, with parasites
From: Marcel Tanke, February 9, 2009 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from sthn Queensland [2]
From: Gary Cobb, December 17, 2008 -
Phestilla melanobrachia? from sthn Queensland [1]
From: Gary Cobb, December 17, 2008 -
Phestilla melanobrachia? from Singapore
From: Toh Chay Hoon, November 3, 2008 -
Parasites on Phestilla melanobranchia
From: Jon Bertsch, November 21, 2007 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Bali
From: Mike Krampf, August 8, 2007 -
Re: Phestilla melanobrachia from Hong Kong
From: Curt Swearingen, July 25, 2007 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from the Red Sea
From: Sven Kahlbrock, June 4, 2007 -
Phestilla from the NOAA website
From: Frances Clements, August 2, 2005 -
Phestilla melanobrachia with parasites
From: Roberto Sozzani, February 21, 2005 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Reunion Island
From: Philibert Bidgrain, February 19, 2005 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from the Solomon Ids
From: Bruce Potter, July 21, 2004 -
Phestilla melanobrachia in East Pacific
From: Alicia Hermosillo, September 6, 2003 -
Phestilla melanobrachia & parasites
From: Lisa Malachowsky, May 12, 2003 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Myanmar
From: Mary Jane Adams, March 25, 2003 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Malaysia
From: Kheong Sann Chan, April 18, 2002 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Hong Kong
From: Leslie Chan, July 17, 2001 -
Phestilla melanobrachia from Hong Kong
From: Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell, July 17, 2001