Phyllidia schupporum
Fahrner & Schrödl, 2000
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Phyllidiidae
DISTRIBUTION
Currently known from the Gulf of Aqaba, Northern Red Sea (Egypt) only.
PHOTO
Living holotype, 30 mm long; found on 'INMO-Reef', Dahab, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea,
at 12 m depth, 27. Oct. 1998.
This species is characterized by a white background colour and two broad, median, longitudinal, black lines on the dorsum from which short, black stripes extend to the mantle margin. The longitudinal lines are connected by a transverse line medially, resulting in two central white areas. Three or four large, white semicircles occur around each side of the mantle margin. Several irregularly shaped black spots are spread over all the white areas. There is no distinctly coloured edge to the mantle margin. Isolated and rounded, white tubercles with yellow tips cover the notum. The rhinophores are orange-yellow, each clavus possesses 14 lamellae. Ventrally, foot and notum are white, despite of the black markings of the dorsum that are visible on the hyponotum and the dark grey edge of the foot. The gills are grey and the separate, conical oral tentacles are white with orange tips.
NOTE: See Bernard Picton's message suggesting this is really a synonym of P. multifaria.
References:
• Fahrner, A. & Schrödl, M. (2000) Description of Phyllidia schupporum, a new nudibranch species from the northern Red Sea (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Phyllidiidae). Spixiana, 23(1): 55-60.
• Fahrner, A. & Schrödl, M. (2000). Redescription of Phyllidiopsis sinaiensis (Yonow, 1988) (Nudibranchia: Doridoidea: Phyllidiidae), with a review of the Red Sea Phyllidiidae. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 66(4): 467-476.
Fahrner, A. & Schrödl, M, 2000 (August 13) Phyllidia schupporum Fahrner & Schrödl, 2000 . [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/phylschu
Related messages
Re: Phyllidia schupporum from the Red Sea
June 28, 2007
From: Binyamin Koretz
Concerning message #2887:
Hi Bill,
We do like our Red Sea phyllidiid mysteries. This individual seems be a good match for Fahrner & Schrodl's Phyllidia schupporum.
Note that the sole has no median line, so it's not likely to be P. multifaria or P. elegans. Also the tubercles are higher than P. multifaria. However, I don't see the orange tip to the oral tentacles that were mentioned in the original description.
Locality: Eilat, Divers' Village, 5 m, Israel, Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat), 8 June 2007, corals. Length: 25 mm. Photographer: Binyamin and Shulamit Koretz.
Best regards
Binyamin
binyamin@koretz.net
Dear Binyamin,
When we are dealing with a relatively recently described species of which we know very little, I think we can allow for the absence of yellow tips to the oral tentacles in your specimen. The tips seem to be opaque white, suggesting that they have some pigmentation. Perhaps it does not appear yellow until it reaches a larger size or perhaps some specimens are 'pale' and lack this pigmenation on the tentacles.
I am glad you took some photos of the underside. If we knew more about the underneath of these animals the many puzzles might be more easily resolved
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Phyllidia schupporum & Phyllidiella hageni
August 16, 2000
From: Alexander Fahrner
Dear Bill,
Here are photos and short accounts of the two new Indo-Pacific phyllidiid species [Phyllidia schupporum and Phyllidiella hageni] to be added to the Forum.
Best wishes,
Alexander Fahrner
schroedl@zi.biologie.uni-muenchen.de
Fahrner, A., 2000 (Aug 16) Phyllidia schupporum & Phyllidiella hageni. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2887Dear Alexander,
Thanks very much for sending this information to the Forum. It is a very useful way in keeping us all informed of new descriptions.
Bill Rudman.
