Melibe digitata
Gosliner & Smith, 2003

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Tethydidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from the Philippines at present.

PHOTO

Anilao, Luzon Island, Philippines. Depth: 30 ft. Length: 30 mm. April, 2002. Photographer: Jeff Rosenfeld

The body is a translucent brown or greenish brown, the colour darkening in the branched region of the cerata. The branches of the digestive gland are easily seen throught the body wall. There are also opaque white tubercles scattered over the dorsum, oral hood and ceratal walls. The most distinctive feature of this species is the presence of finely branched papillae on the cerata, giving the appearance of a clump of brown algae.

  • Gosliner, T. M. and Smith, V. G. (2003) Systematic review and phylogenetic analysis of the nudibranch genus Melibe (Opisthobranchia: Dendronotacea) with descriptions of three new species.  Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 54: 302-355.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (September 23) Melibe digitata Gosliner & Smith, 2003. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/melidigi

Related messages


Melibe digitata from Philippines

September 26, 2005
From: Jeff Rosenfeld

Hi Bill,

Here's a shot of Melibe digitata that was taken in Anilao, Luzon Island, Philippines in April, 2002. I noticed you don't yet have a page for this species.

Locality: Anilao, Luzon Island, Philippines. Depth: 30 ft. Length: 30 mm. April, 2002. Photographer: Jeff Rosenfeld

Thanks,
Jeff
http://www.vibrantsea.net

jeff@rosenfeldfamily.net

Rosenfeld, J., 2005 (Sep 26) Melibe digitata from Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14660

Thanks Jeff,
Always happy to welcome another species to the Forum.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman