Phyllodesmium sp. 10

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae

PHOTO

Malapascua Island, Philippines. Depth: 18m., Size: 1cm. April 2002. Photo: Georg Heinze

This is most probably a species of Phyllodesmium. The digestive gland in the cerata has regular groups of branches much like in Phyllodesmium poindimiei, but I think the colour pattern of this animal, with opaque white patching scattered over a transparent body is rather different.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (October 28) Phyllodesmium sp. 10 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/phyllodsp10

Related messages


Phyllodesmium? from the Philippines

October 30, 2002
From: Erwin Köhler

Dear Bill,
Here is one more from the Philippines, Malapascua Island, divesite "Gato Cave". Comparing it with the photos at the sea slug forum I guess this is Phyllodesmium poindimiei, but this is only a guess!

Size: 1cm
Depth: 18m
Date: April 2002
Photos: Georg Heinze [Georg.Heinze@t-online.de]

Cheers,
Erwin

Erwin@medslugs.de

Köhler, E., 2002 (Oct 30) Phyllodesmium? from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8230

Thanks Erwin,
I agree that this is most probably a species of Phyllodesmium. If you look carefully in the close-up alongside, you can see that the digestive gland in the cerata has regular groups of branches. P. poindimiei has a similar branching arrangement but I think the colour pattern of your animal, with opaque white patching scattered over a transparent body is probably an indication that this is another species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Oct 30). Comment on Phyllodesmium? from the Philippines by Erwin Köhler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8230