This species has been observed on Reunion, Mayotte and Madagascar Islands

Order : Sacoglossa Superfamily : Limapontioidea Family : Caliphyllidae Distribution : Known from Philippines, Tanzania, Reunion Maximal size : 45 mm Abundance : (Run) Seldom if ever... (May) Seldom on the reef flat zone Species characteristics :     The body is mostly covered by large flattened paddle-shaped cerata.     The inside face of each ceras are translucent clear with many raised transparent pustules.. Each transparent pustule is surrounded by a white ring.    The outside face of each ceratas is an opaque greenish brown colour with scattered slightly raised nodules which are dull whitish in colour.     The edge of the cerata has a yellowish band and raised whitish nodules.    Presence of the two "black holes'" near the tip of the inner face of each cerata
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Philibert Bidgrain mbouanatsa, Mayotte on the reef flat zone, less 1 m,21 October 2008, size : 20-25 mm

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    See more about : Cyerce pavonina mimics an encrusting ascidian

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Bill Rudman
    According Bill Rudman, our specimen from Réunion Island seems to be an intermediate between a dark form (Sth African specimen) and the more "typical" yellow-brown animals.
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
               - No other nam

Bibliographic data :

The body is a typical shape for a species of Cyerce with bifurcating rhinophores and the sole of the foot split in two with a transverse groove just behind the rhinophores. The body is mostly covered by large flattened paddle-shaped cerata, which are easily autotomised, and continue to wiggle and exude sticky secretions for many hours after being cast off.
    The inside face of each ceras are translucent clear with many raised transparent pustules scattered all over. Each transparent pustule is surrounded by a white ring, formed from clusters of opaque white specks, possibly glands. 
    The outside face of each ceratas is an opaque greenish brown colour with scattered slightly raised nodules which are dull whitish in colour.
    The edge of the cerata has a yellowish band and raised whitish nodules. The ceratal stalk is colourless and on the outer side there are two elongate marks, a black one close to the attachment point and a larger red one further up.
    The body is translucent clear a greenish tinge, and scattered microscopic white granules. There is a dark brown band across the head, at eye level, and a lighter brown colour on the oral tentacles and rhinophores. The general colour pattern of the cerata gives the slugs the appearance of a soft coral colony, the outer face looking like contracted polyps while the inner face looks like feeding polyps.
     Presence of the two "black holes' (they are not holes, just an illusion ...) near the tip of the inner face of each cerata

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Cyerce pavonina
   Nudipixel Cyerce pavonina

Publications :

Bergh, L.S.R. (1888) Malacologische Untersuchungen. In: C.G. Semper, Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen, Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 2, Heft 16a., 755-814. (Pls. 77-81)
    Jensen, K.R. (2007). Biogeography of the Sacoglossa (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia). Bonner Zoologische Beiträge. 55: 255–281

Other photos of Cyerce pavonina :

Philibert Bidgrain Detail from the typical yellow-brown animal from Mayotte island specimen mbouanatsa, Mayotte on the reef flat zone, less 1 m,21 October 2008, size : 20-25 mm The body is a typical shape for a species of Cyerce with bifurcating rhinophores

The edge of the cerata has a yellowish band and raised whitish nodules. The inside face of each ceras are translucent clear with many raised transparent pustules scattered all over. Each transparent pustule is surrounded by a white ring, formed from clusters of opaque white specks, possibly glands.       The outside face of each ceratas is an opaque greenish brown colour with scattered slightly raised nodules which are dull whitish in colour.

Maurice Jay A few years ago... The inside face of each ceras are translucent clear with many raised transparent pustules scattered all over. Each transparent pustule is surrounded by a white ring, formed from clusters of opaque white specks, possibly glands.  Presence of the two "black holes'" near the tip of the inner face of each ceras. The outer face looking like contracted polyps while the inner face looks like feeding polyps.

The outside face of each ceras is an opaque greenish brown colour with scattered slightly raised nodules which are dull whitish in colour. The outer face looking like contracted polyps while the inner face looks like feeding polyps.

Philibert Bidgrain Mayotte, Mtsanga Mbouanatsa, less 1 m, 6 October 2012, size : 30 mm   The edge of the cerata of this specimen hasn't a yellowish band but raised with whitish nodules (a).

Jacques Vieira Madagascar, Nosy Bé

More photos from Indian Ocean

See more about : Cyerce pavonina mimics an encrusting ascidian

Réunion, Cyerce pavonina, at saint Gilles, by Christophe Cadet.