Order : Sacoglossa
Superfamily : Limapontioidea
Family : Caliphyllidae
Distribution : Indo West Pacific
Maximal size : 50 mm
Abundance :

Species characteristics :

This species is translucent cream, faint orange to dusky brown.

The broad, oval, pillow-like cerata are edged with cream, gold or white flecks and often show an iridescent internal blue to green spot under some lighting conditions.

When examined closely, the cerata are divided into sections by a network of transparent vein-like lines.

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow and Hsini Lin
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
               - No other name

Bibliographic data :

Depending upon diet and locality, specimens of this species vary from nearly transparent white to reddish-brown.
    Like other Cyerce this species have : rolled oral tentacles and rhinophores, the latter bifid at the tips with eyes at the base, and the sole of the foot bears a transversal groove across its center
    In Cyerce the digestive gland doesn't extend into the flattened part of the cerata like in Polybranchia and there is no evidence of plastid symbiosis.
    The cerata are easily autonomized (cast off) when the animal is disturbed. This behavior is a defensive tactic.
    Some specimen, particularly juveniles, may lack visible lines on the cerata
    It appears to feed on the calcareous alga Halimeda spp, and it found in relatively shallow water from 1-10 m depth
    It lays a cream, spiral egg mass (usually on its host alga) and the eggs hatch in about seven days in the laboratory

Philibert Bidgrain

Mayotte, Mtsanga Guini, less 1 m, 12 October 2008, size : 60 mm

One distinctive feature, more easily visible in darker animals, is the irisdescent blue spot of each cerata

Depending upon diet and locality, specimens of this species vary from nearly transparent white to reddish-brown.

Eva Fontaine

Mayotte, Mtsanga Guini, less 1 m, 31 July 2010, size 35-40 mm

The broad, oval, pillow-like cerata are edged with cream, gold or white flecks (a) and often show an iridescent internal blue to green spot (b) under some lighting conditions.

When examined closely, the cerata are divided into sections by a network of transparent vein-like lines (c)

Philibert Bidgrain          Mayotte, Mtsanga Mtiti Sada, less 1 m, 20 July 2010, size 25-30 mm

Like other Cyerce this species have : the sole of the foot bears a transversal groove (a) across its center

Alain-Benoît Rassat

Madagascar, Nosy Bé, size : 25 mm