Phyllidiella rosans
(Bergh, 1873)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Phyllidiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from Tahiti, Hawaii, the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

PHOTO

12 m depth, Pupukea, Oahu, Hawaii, 29 June 1983, dorsal view of 18 mm specimen (with smooth, broken ridges), Photo: S. Johnson (Brunckhorst, 1993: Plate 6C); 1-20 m depth, Réunion, Indian Ocean, 1989, dorsal view of 35 mm specimen, Photo: M. Jay (Brunckhorst, 1993: Plate 6D).

Notes compiled from Brunckhorst, 1993:
Phyllidiella rosans is distinguished by its numerous, longitudinal, rounded pink ridges, pink margin and black rhinophores which have a pink stalk. Ventrally, P. rosans is pale grey.

The longitudinal notal ridges of the present species distinguish it from the three species of Phyllidiella described above and also the new species described below. The only other species of Phyllidiella which possesses longitudinal ridges and a pale foot is Phyllidiella zeylanica. However, that species differs from P.rosans in the very uneven, irregular nature of the notal ridges which are formed from the coalesced bases of compound tubercles. Furthermore, the foot of P. zeylanica is whitish and its gills and oral tentacles are dark grey (pale in P. rosans). Each rhinophoral clavus possesses 20-23 lamellae in P. zeylanica (specimens greater than 30 mm), but only 12-15 in P. rosans (specimens greater than 30 mm).

Reference:
• Brunckhorst, D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (September 12) Phyllidiella rosans (Bergh, 1873). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/phylrosa

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