Dermatobranchus cf. phyllodes Gosliner & Fahey, 2011

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This species has been observed on Madagascar Island


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Dexiarchia
Superfamily : Arminoidea
Family : Arminidae
Distribution : West pacific and Madagascar
Maximal size : 60 mm
Abundance :

Species characteristics :

The ground colour is pale green and pinkish blotches are also prevalent. There are dark green speckles and spots of various sizes scattered randomly on the dorsum.
   It is characterized by diagonal ridges on the outer half of the notum leaving most of the central notum free of ridges, giving a leaf-like appearance
    The rhinophore stalk is white and the club is dark.
   The oral veil is opaque white with dark spots along the anterior margin and a pale orange edge.
   The foot margin has small dark speckles

dermatobranchus semilunus
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Alain-Benoît Rassat
Madagascar, Nosy Bé, Olaf, 17 m, 7 July 2012, size : 60 mm

Remarks :

This species is discribeb only from Western Pacific and it's very difficult to identified Dermatobranchus only by photo, so until I have a confirmation by a specialist I prefered to call this species Dermatobranchus cf. phyllodes
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
               - No other name

Bibliographic data :

The widely spaced rhinophores are situated behind the oral veil. They have a series of longitudinal lamellae on the rounded club. The stalk does not narrow noticeably
    There is a U-shaped band of dark green pigment at the anterior third of the notum
    Etymology : The specific name phyllodes is from the Greek word meaning ‘leaflike: chlorophyll' in reference to the distinctive leaf-like appearance of this species' dorsum

References :

Seaslug forum : Dermatobranchus sp. 6
    Philippines Seaslug : Dermatobranchus phyllodes

Publications :

Gosliner T.M. & Fahey S.J. (2011) Previously undocumented diversity and abundance of cryptic species: a phylogenetic analysis of Indo-Pacific Arminidae Rafinesque, 1814 (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) with descriptions of 20 new species of Dermatobranchus . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 161: 245–356

Other photos of Dermatobranchus cf. phyllodes :


Alain-Benoît Rassat
Madagascar, Nosy Bé, Olaf, 17 m, 7 July 2012, size : 60 mm


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