Phidiana indica
(Bergh, 1896)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Grows to approximately 20mm long.
PHOTO
Koumac, northern New Caledonia, October 1993. PHOTO: Bill Rudman.
In some specimens the background colour on the head can be an intense opaque orange rather than the translucent colour in this photograph. Also placed in the genera Learchis, Caloria, Hervia and Facelina by various authors. The correct generic placing cannot be resolved at present.
Reference:
• Bergh, L.S.R. (1896). Eolidiens d'Amboine. Voyage de MM. M. Bedot et C. Pictet dans l'Archipel Malais. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 4: 385-394, Pl. 16.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (March 4) Phidiana indica (Bergh, 1896). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/phidindi
Related messages
Phidiana indica from the Gulf of Thailand
October 31, 2007
From: Somsri Choojan
I found this one in a bay in Koh Tao. Is it Phidiana militaris? Could you please help me to identify this specimen?
Locality: Aow Leuk, Koh Tao, 5 m, Thailand, Gulf of Thailand, 13. October 2007, Rocky. Length: 30 mm. Photographer: Somsri Choojan.
Best Regards,
Nid
schoojan@yahoo.com
Somsri Choojan, 2007 (Oct 31) Phidiana indica from the Gulf of Thailand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21052Dear Nid,
This is a species of Phidiana but it is P. indica. One easy way to distinguish these two species is that in P. indica the head is orange with white lines while in P. militaris it is white with orange lines.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica at Siladen Island
August 29, 2007
From: E. Elvan Ampou
Dear Bill
I just want to asked about this picture of a nudibranch. I took the picture during when diving when i was a student in Master in Knowledge and Management of the Biodiversity of Indonesian Coral Reefs, Polytechnical University of The Marche - Ancona, Italy. Precisely my diving activity at Siladen Island was at Bunaken National Park. I really hope your explanation about this picture because the nudibranch was settled on the sponge.
Locality: Island, 5 metres, Indonesia, Sulawesi Sea, 17 March 2005, Sponge. Length: 2 inches. Photographer: Ampou, E.E..
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Best Regards,
Elvan - SEACORM
elvan_ampou76@yahoo.com
Ampou, E.E., 2007 (Aug 29) Phidiana indica at Siladen Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20573
Dear Elvan,
Phidiana indica is a hydroid feeder, but it is often seen crawling over other colonial animals such as sponges and corals and also over sea weeds. There is no significance in this, the nudibranch is basically treating these other organisms as a piece of rock or a pathway. You'll note in your photo that there are small crustaceans all over this sponge as well.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from North Sulawesi
June 1, 2007
From: Sebastian Ferse
Dear Bill,
here is another critter from North Sulawesi. I guess this is a Flabellina, but I am not sure which species. I found it on a current-exposed reef top in 12m depth (that's also why the picture is pretty blurry, sorry) on a rock with rich growth of coralline algae, sponges and ascidians.
Locality: Tanjung Parigi, 12 m, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean, 30 March 2007, current-swept deep reef-top. Length: 3 cm. Photographer: Sebastian Ferse.
Sebastian Ferse
sebastian.ferse@zmt-bremen.de
Ferse, S.C.A., 2007 (Jun 1) Phidiana indica from North Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19795Dear Sebastian,
This is Phidiana indica.
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Andaman Sea, Thailand.
March 7, 2007
From: Vie Panyarachun
Dear Dr. Rudman,
Found this creature during a dive at Richelieu Rock (located near Ko Tachai, Similan Islands Marine National Park and Surin Islands Marine National Park, Thailand). Would like to know the ID please.
Locality: Richelieu Rock, approx.20 msw, Thailand, Andaman Sea, 21 February 2007. Photographer: Vie Panyarachun.
Thank you so much for your help.
Sincerely,
Vie Panyarachun
vpanyarachun@hotmail.com
Panyarachun, V., 2007 (Mar 7) Phidiana indica from Andaman Sea, Thailand.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19547
Dear Vie,
There is a very heavily pigmented specimen of Phidiana indica. One good character of this species is the ceratal colour pattern, with a reddish base, yellow tip, and blue median patch on the outside edge, obscuring the black digestive gland duct.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Oman
December 19, 2006
From: Jasper Lansink
Hello Bill,
I have some more unknown nudibranchs. In 10 dives I found about 13 species of which around 8 I could determine using your site.
The pictures show 2 variations of the same slug (I think). One has a white body and the base of the cerata is orange, the other one has a full orange body. Both have similar blue and yellow cerata. Possibly there are more varations and is that the reason I could not find the correct species.
Locality: Muscat, Bandar Khairan, 15 meters, Oman, Gulf of Oman, 19 september 2006, Coral, Sea, No currents. Length: 4 cm. Photographer: Jasper Lansink.
Thanks,
Jasper
jasper@aquadonna.nl
Dear Jasper,
This is Phidiana indica. As you'll see in the attached messages, there is quite a bit of colour variation in this species. Since we know very little about the fauna of Oman, when you get a moment I would quite like to see photos of the other species you have seen there. It couold give us some useful information on colour variation and distributions.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Oman Musandam
February 7, 2006
From: Jean-Philippe Borges
Hello Bill,
I found this nudibranch in October 2005 during my dive trip in Mudandam (Sultanate of Oman). Can you identify this specie ?
Thanks
Locality: Musandam, Sultanate of Oman, Indian Ocean. Depth: 10-15 meters. Length: 8-10 cm. October 2005. Photographer: Jean-Philippe Borges
Jean-Philippe Borges
filou78@freesurf.fr
Borges, J.P., 2006 (Feb 7) Phidiana indica from Oman Musandam. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15756Dear Jean-Philippe,
This is Phidiana indica
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Bali
February 1, 2006
From: Marli Wakeling
Hi Bill,
Here's a Phidiana indica that was out for a nightime stroll along the sand at Tulamben, Bali.
Locality: Tulamben "The River", Bali, Indonesia. Depth: 20 feet. Length: 15 mm. 25 July 2005. Sandy bottom. Photographer: Marli Wakeling
Cheers,
Marli
scubamarli@gmail.com
Wakeling, M., 2006 (Feb 1) Phidiana indica from Bali. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15707
Dear Marli,
It certainly looks out of place on the bare sand
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Indonesia
June 3, 2005
From: Ian Jones
I am unable to identify this nudibranch in any of my guide books. Any ideas what it is?
Locality: Lembeh Straits, N. Sulawesi, Indonesia. Depth: 30 feet. Length: 3 cm. May, 2004. Mouth of the straits on a wall. Photographer: Ian Jones
Thanks,
Ian Jones
Brentwood, Tennessee, USA
Ian.Jones@Vanderbilt.edu
Jones, I., 2005 (Jun 3) Phidiana indica from Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13933Dear Ian,
This is Phidiana indica. The colour pattern on the head and the cerata and characteristic.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Malaysia
November 19, 2003
From: Janshir
Please help me to identify this sea slug, as most of the divers on this island couldn't help me.
location : Redang island, east cost of west Malaysia.
depth : 18 m
Date : 1st August 2003
Teng Janshir
tengjanshir@yahoo.com
Janshir, 2003 (Nov 19) Phidiana indica from Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11354Dear Janshir,
This is Phidiana indica.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from eastern Australia
April 15, 2003
From: Leanne & David Atkinson
Dear Bill,
Is this Phidiana indica? Are the eggs on the sponge near it possibly from it? Sorry about the quality of the photos. It was quite tiny, 5mm, and the lowest I could go was 2:1.
Date: 2 March 2003
Location: Fly Point, Port Stephens, NSW Australia
Depth: 4m
Time: 10:00 am
Tide: High, 1.73m
Temp: 17 degrees Celsius
Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink
Thanks Leanne & David,
The slug is P. indica, but I am pretty sure the egg mass is from some dorid.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Port Stephens
May 26, 2002
From: David Harasti
Dear Bill,
Here is a photo of an animal taken at the Pipeline in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, NSW - Australia.
The depth was 8 metres, water temp was about 22 degrees. I think the animal could be Phidiana newcombi, - would this identification be correct? I have only ever seen the species on the one occasion.
Kind regards,
David Harasti
www.webone.com.au/~diving
diving@webone.com.au
Harasti, D., 2002 (May 26) Phidiana indica from Port Stephens. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7014Dear Dave,
This is a colour form of Phidiana indica. If you look at the other messages on the Forum you will see that this species is quite variable in colour.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Christmas Island
May 13, 2002
From: W.B. Rudman
Here is another record of Phidiana indica from John Hicks' Christmas Island, Indian Ocean collections.
This specimen was 23 mm long alive.
PHOTO:
AM C127587, 19 March 1981, off theatre underhang of coral rock where small white hydroids are common, 10 m, Christmas Is., Indian Ocean. Photo: John Hicks
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Christmas Island
May 4, 2002
From: W.B. Rudman
Here is some information and photos on Phidiana indica from John Hicks' Christmas Island collections.
PHOTO:
UPPER: AM C132438, 30 October 1981, District Officers's Point., Christmas Is., Indian Ocean.
LOWER: AM C131043, 20 & 30 mm long alive, 29 July 1981, on anchor chain on buoy in Cove, 25m, Christmas Is., Indian Ocean. Photos: John Hicks
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Bali
March 19, 2002
From: Stuart Hutchison
Hi Bill,
Here's two shots of Phidiana indica from Bali, Indonesia. Lengths approx 40mm. Depths approx 15m.
Regards,
Stuart
stuart@stuarthutchison.com.au
Hutchison, S., 2002 (Mar 19) Phidiana indica from Bali. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6362Thanks Stuart,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from the Coral Sea
March 18, 2002
From: Stuart Hutchison
Hi Bill,
Here's a shot of Phidiana indica from the Coral Sea, Australia. Approx 40mm long. Depths approx 15m.
Regards,
Stuart
stuart@stuarthutchison.com.au
Hutchison, S., 2002 (Mar 18) Phidiana indica from the Coral Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6300Thanks Stuart,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Papua New Guinea
October 28, 2001
From: Marli Wakeling
Hi Bill,
Here is another nudibranch from Papua New Guinea. I did see this one quite frequently in shallower areas. This was found on Albatross Channel, home of the famous Pygmy Sea Horses. I believe it is a Caloria indica.
Dive Site: Albatross Channel, near Kavieng, Papua New Guinea
Date: July, 2001
Depth: 15 metres
Length: 30 mm
Marli.
scubamarli@excite.com
Wakeling, M., 2001 (Oct 28) Phidiana indica from Papua New Guinea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5526Dear Marli,
This is Phidiana indica, Caloria being considered an unnecesary extra genus. As you'll nptoce from the other photos on the Forum this species tends to walk quite quickly in a straight line so most photos of it are long and thin. So that you can see some detail I have included a close-up of the head end as well.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina? from NE Sulawesi
August 8, 2001
From: Jim Anderson
Dear Dr. Rudman,
Taken at 3 metres on 21 June 01 at Engine Point, NE Sulawesi. The animal was approx 20 mm long. Can you ID please.
Regards,
Jim A
jander4454@aol.com
Anderson, J., 2001 (Aug 8) Flabellina? from NE Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4997Dear Jim,
This is Phidiana indica
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Phidiana indica from Fiji
July 19, 2001
From: Ken Tucker
I'm having trouble identifying this nudibranch, shot in Fiji this March. It was between 1.0" to 1.5" and found while I was diving on the west central arm of the Vuya Barrier Reef south of Vanua Levu and West of the Namena Barrier Reef
Perhaps you can help.
Thanks much,
Ken
ken@kilili.com
Tucker, K., 2001 (Jul 19) Phidiana indica from Fiji. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4825Dear Ken,
This is quite a common aeolid throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Its name is Phidiana indica.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Hong Kong
July 6, 2001
From: Leslie Chan
Dear Bill,
Could you identify this nudibranch which I photographed in Hong Kong.
Details: 12m, Tsim Chau, Hong Kong. 25 August 2000.
Thanks
Leslie Chan
leslie@lesmart.com
Chan, L., 2001 (Jul 6) Phidiana indica from Hong Kong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4752Dear Leslie,
This is Phidiana indica. I will be posting your other photos over the next few days.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Records of Phidiana indica
February 9, 2001
From: Bernard Picton
Hi Bill,
I see that Phidiana indica is being reported by divers quite regularly. I've enclosed some photos in a separate message to show the differences between this and Phidiana militaris.
UPPER PHOTO: Lai Cho Chung, Mirs Bay, Hong Kong - 17 Apr 1983
LOWER PHOTO: Liberty wreck, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia - March 1989
Bernard
bernard.picton.um@nics.gov.uk
Picton, B., 2001 (Feb 9) Records of Phidiana indica. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3746Thanks Bernard,
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from the Solomon Islands
February 2, 2001
From: Mary Jane Adams
Hi Bill,
Here are two aeolids I photographed in the Solomon Islands in November, 2000. Are these both Phidiana indica? The UPPER PHOTO has the colors I usually see in this area. I shot it at Anuha Island in the Florida group. [Solomon Ids] I think the LOWER PHOTO might be the orange headed color variety you mention in your description of P. indica. I found it on a night dive near the wreck of the Ann in Sunlight Passage, Russell Islands [Solomon Ids].
Thanks for all the great information you so faithfully provide.
Best regards,
Mary Jane
divepng@yahoo.com
Adams, M.J., 2001 (Feb 2) Phidiana indica from the Solomon Islands. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3649Dear Mary Jane,
Yes these are both colour forms of P. indica
Bill Rudman
Phidiana indica from Great Barrier Reef
August 14, 2000
From: Stuart Hutchison
Dear Bill,
what's the name of this guy. He was found at Wheeler Reef (Great Barrier Reef - Australia)in March 2000 at 10m depth on coral.
Regards,
Stuart
hutchco@tpg.com.au
Hutchison, S., 2000 (Aug 14) Phidiana indica from Great Barrier Reef. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2868Dear Stuart,
This is Phidiana indica, a fairly common aeolid found throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific.
Bill Rudman.
Phidiana indica from South Africa
August 8, 2000
From: Valda Fraser
Dear Bill
A small beauty! I hope you'll be able to help with identification.
Locality: Aliwal Shoal, Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICA - 15m
Date: July 2000
Size: 15mm
Thanks.
Regards
Valda Fraser
iti04937@mweb.co.za
Fraser, V., 2000 (Aug 8) Phidiana indica from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2814Dear Valda,
This is Phidiana indica which is a pretty little aeolid with a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Phidiana indica from Thailand
May 1, 2000
From: Narongpon Sittithaweepat
Dear Bill
I am not sure whether this specimen is Caloria indica . I found it in 60 feet at Surin Island. The photo is by Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat. So could you please identify it for me.
Thank you again for your kindness,
Narongpon
chromodorid@thaimail.com
Sittithaweepat, N., 2000 (May 1) Phidiana indica from Thailand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2332Dear Narongpon,
Yes this is Caloria indica, but it now considered to be Phidiana indica.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Phidiana indica from Papua New Guinea
July 18, 1999
From: Grey McNeil
Dear Bill,
Could you identify this photo please. The details are:
RASCHS REEF, MADANG, Papua New Guinea, 1cm long, 7m, January 1999.
Thanks,
Grey McNeil.
GREYMACIND@bigpond.com
McNeil, G., 1999 (Jul 18) Phidiana indica from Papua New Guinea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/993Dear Grey,
I am pretty sure this is a colour variant of Phidiana indica. This form with an orange body is the normal colour form at Lord Howe Island and had been recorded from New Caledonia, so it is good to get it further afield.
Bill Rudman.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Jul 18). Comment on Phidiana indica from Papua New Guinea by Grey McNeil. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/993Re: Phidiana indica? from Sulawesi
March 19, 1999
From: Lindsay Warren
Dear Bill,
With regard to your query about the blue spiralling band on the rhinophores of the Phidiana - this is a thin blue coloured band which spirals up the rhinophore which is white. This seems to be a colour pattern rather than a raised feature. Unlike the photo of Phidiana indica which you posted along with the shot I sent through, 'our' specimen had a translucent but
distinctly pink body. Perhaps the colours change as it matures.
Lindsay.
100014.2112@compuserve.com
Warren, L., 1999 (Mar 19) Re: Phidiana indica? from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/699Dear Lindsay,
I would be interested in a magnified shot of the spiral pattern on the rhinophores. It may be of help. As you will appreciate we know very little about the colour variation displayed by many tropical species, and there are still a lot of undescribed species to find. My best guess would still be P. indica.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Phidiana indica from Sulawesi
March 4, 1999
From: Lindsay Warren.
Dear Bill
Any help with this aeolid from Tukang Besi, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia, phtographed by Adam Powell.
Length: 5 mm. Rhinophores have a fine blue spiralling band on a white background, cerata are white with a blue dot in the centre, long
white oral tentacles, translucent pale pink body. Found at a depth of 6 m on a dead section of submassive coral covered in algae, sheltered.
Thanks,
Lindsay Warren.
100014.2112@compuserve.com
Warren, L., 1999 (Mar 4) Phidiana indica from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/634Dear Lindsay,
I am pretty sure this is a very juvenile specimen of Phidiana indica. The general shape and the blue ceratal patch are fairly distinctive. At this size, most juveniles have still to develop their full colour pattern. I must say I am not sure what you mean about the "blue spiralling band" on the rhinophores.
Bill Rudman.
Caloria indica feeding
September 9, 1998
From: John Hoover
Dear Dr. Rudman,
Do you know what Caloria indica feeds on? Hydroids, perhaps? C. militaris is supposed to feed on hydroids.
Thank you,
John Hoover
Honolulu, Hawaii
1 September 1998
hoover@hml.org
Hoover, J., 1998 (Sep 9) Caloria indica feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/220Dear John,
Most aeolids feed on hydroids or related cnidarians. As far as I know all the species in the "Phidiana" group of species do, although some tend to eat other nudibranchs if you keep them together in the same jar when collecting. I reported Phidiana indica from Tanzania feeding on the hydroid Salacia tetracythara (Lamouroux) (see Rudman,W.B., 1980: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 68(2): 139-172) and Robilliard observed it feeding on the hydroid Pennaria in Hawaii (see Baba, K., 1969: Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 16(6): 399-403.)
If you are studying these animals perhaps you would like to let us know what you are doing .. Bill Rudman.
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Sep 9). Comment on Caloria indica feeding by John Hoover. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/220