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.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 15) Fryeria guamensis Brunckhorst, 1993. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/fryeguam
Related messages
Re: Fryeria guamensis from Nthn Mariana Ids
August 21, 2009
From: Yuji Fujie
Concerning message #11656:
Dear Dr.Bill,
Fryeria guamensis is very common in Saipan. I think this animal to be one of the most beautiful of the Phyllidiidae.
Locality: (LauLau Beach, 6m, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean, 21 September 2007, Side of the rock. Length: 30mm. Photographer: Yuji Fujie.
We do not sometimes understand the difference with Phyllidia tula
Would you give advice to us, please ?
Best regards,
Yuji
scuba.element@gmail.com
Yuji Fujie, 2009 (Aug 21) Re: Fryeria guamensis from Nthn Mariana Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22549
Dear Yuji,
Some of these phyllidiids are not easy to distinguish. One basic difference is that in species of Phyllidia the anus opens dorsally while in species of Fryeria it opens in the posterior midline under the mantle edge. There is some evidence to suggest in a couple of species of Fryeria that the position of the anus is variable, but we need more information.
One distinctive difference, if you remember to look, is that Phyllidia tula has a black line on the sole of foot while Fryeria guamensis does not. A more subtle difference is that in Fryeria guamensis the large tubercles in the centre of the mantle are arranged in longitudinal lines and the individual tubercles are arranged in an alternating pattern with the tubercles on each side.
In Phyllidia tula the tubercles are usually rounded, and those in the centre are arranged in a fairly random pattern. The tubercles gradually decrease in size from the centre to the outside of the mantle, but there can be a few small tubercles anongst the large central ones.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Fryeria guamensis? from Nthn Mariana Ids
December 16, 2003
From: Kenji Kobayashi
Dear Bill,
Could you identify this photo? I think it might be Fryeria guamensis
The photo was taken in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Regards
Kenji Kobayashi
squall@gtepacifica.net
Kobayashi, K., 2003 (Dec 16) Fryeria guamensis? from Nthn Mariana Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11656Dear Kenji,
Yes this is Fryeria guamensis. The small separate tubercles around the edge of the mantle are a good external character for this species
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Fryeria guamensis? from the Marquesas Ids
March 8, 2000
From: Clay Bryce
Hi Bill,
Here is a another phyllidiid from the Marquesas.
It matches Fryeria guamensis - Except for the marginal pustules that appear to be different from the description all the rest fits. There is no foot stripe and the visceral envelope does appear to shade from dark to light anteriorly
- although it is not "very dark" as described by Brunckhorst.
Data: Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Is., 25m on rocky slope, 20/10/99
All the best,
Clay Bryce
brycec@museum.wa.gov.au
Bryce, C., 2000 (Mar 8) Fryeria guamensis? from the Marquesas Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2040Dear Clay,
If this is F. guamensis it is certainly a large range extension to the east. As far as I know it is presently only known from Guam. As you say it seems to differ in having a continuous band of small blue tubercles around the mantle edge.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
