Facelina rhodopos    Yonow, 2000
Version française...

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


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Dexiarchia
Superfamily : Aeolidioidea
Family : Facelinidae
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific. Described from Red Sea, reported from Malaysia and Japan.
Maximal size : 20 mm
Abundance : Seldom on the reef flat zone


Species characteristics :

The species is characterised by a translucent yellow to orange body, cerata, and tentacles
   The cerata are arranged in 7 or 8 clusters of 6 to 15 club-shaped cerata with have a terminal nipple
   Rhinophores obliquely lamellated and slightly longer than the large propodial tentacles but only one third the length of the oral tentacles

 glaucus atlanticus M.Jay
Showing species characteristics...
Photo Philibert Bidgrain
Reunion, Etang salé les bains lagoon, under a rock, 28 April 2005, size : 15-20 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Bill Rudman and Nathalie Yonow
    Under the name of Pruvotfolia rhodopos in NSSI (Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification, Gosliner, Valdès & Behrens, 2015)
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
               - No other name

Bibliographic data :

Body moderately narrow with wider foot. Foot much longer than body and marked with a central longitudinal peach or pink band
    Head and cardiac region brighter in colour and eyes visible at base of rhinophores
    Reddish brown digestive gland visible as a central extension of all the cerata.
    Genital swelling observed under or among the first cluster of cerata.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Facelina rhodopos

Publications :

Yonow, N. (2000). Red Sea Opisthobranchia 4: The orders Cephalaspidea, Anaspidea, Notaspidea and Nudibranchia: Dendronotacea and Aeolidacea. Fauna of Arabia , 18: 87-131.

Other photos of Facelina rhodopos :

 

Philibert Bidgrain

Réunion, Etang salé les bains lagoon, under a rock, two similar specimens , 28 April 2005, size : 15-20 mm.

Detail from the head. In his photo you can see :

The obliquely lamellated rhinophores.

The eyes, located at the base of the rhinophores

The longs oral tentacles.

 

 

Detail from the anterior body.

In his photo you can see :

Reddish brown digestive gland visible as a central extension of each cerata.

On the right side under the cerata cluster. It could be the gonopore...

Reunion, Etang salé les bains lagoon, under a rock, size : 20 mm.

This specimen was found under a rock, just near this spawn. (I made three similar observations)

Philibert Bidgrain

According N.Yonow " The eggs are very similar to those I found and thought laid by Baeolidia fusiformis so I would say definitely laid by an aeolid, probably Facelina rhodopos if you found it nearly "

Philibert Bidgrain

Réunion, Etang salé les bains lagoon, 3 April 2005, size : 15-20 mm.

The cerata are extended ...

The cerata are arranged in 7 or 8 clusters of 6 to 15 club-shaped cerata with have a terminal nipple (a)

Philibert Bidgrain

Réunion, Etang salé les bains lagoon, 3 March 2011, size : 20 mm.

Reddish brown digestive gland (a) visible as a central extension of all the cerata.

Philippe Bourjon

Réunion, Ermitage lagoon, less 1 m , 17 February 2016, size : 25 mm

 

 

 

Confirmation of Philibert Bidgrain observation. It would be its spawn...

More photos from Indian Ocean

 Rodrigues, Facelina rhodopos, at île aux chats, by Christophe Cadet

Mayotte, Facelina rhodopos, at Sakouli, by Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, Facelina rhodopos with numerous cerata, at La Saline, by Elisabeth Morcel