Phyllidia marindica (Yonow & Hayward, 1991 )

Version française...

This species has been observed on Reunion, Mayotte, Mauritius, madagascar and Seychelles Islands


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Phyllidioidea
Family : Phyllidiidae
Distribution : Indian Ocean from northern Western Australia to eastern Africa.
Maximal size : 55 mm
Abundance : Frequently on the fore reef zone

Species characteristics :

The rhinophores and rhinotubercules of this sea slug are yellow.
   It is predominately blue-grey in colour with two longitudinal black bands running the length of the mantle, one on each side of a single median blue ridge.
   The median ridge has a single row of yellow capped tubercles.
   There are also many black rays or lines, on either side of the mantle, running at right angles to the mantle edge.
   The ventral surface of mantle and the foot are grey, as is the anal papilla

 Sea slug, Fryeria marindica E.Eby

Showing species characteristics...

Photo Emmanuel Eby
Reunion, Saint-Leu, 30 July 2004.

 

  

See more about : Sightening and mating periods
   See more about : Phyllidia marindica variability in Southwest Indian ocean

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Bill Rudman and Nathalie Yonow
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Fryeria marindica (Yonow & Hayward, 1991)
          - Reyfria marindica Yonow & Hayward, 1991

Bibliographic data :

Material examined by David J.Brunckhorst ( see references/publications).

22, 25 & 26 mm specimens, Reunion Island, 5-20 m depth, 1989, M.Jay

Other external morphology characteristics

Live specimens of this sea slug ranged in length from 12-40 mm and the average size was 24 mm.
    The single median longitudinal ridge of this sea slug ( which can be interrupted in some specimens) is blue-grey in colour and it joins with coalesced tubercles, the larger ones of which are capped in yellow. The other notal tubercles are low and isolated, and rounded in shape (the larger ones are capped in yellow).
    The rhinophores of this sea slug are yellow with translucent stalk, and each rhinophoral clavus possesses 20 to 23 lamellae (specimens greater than 24mm).
    The oral tentacles of this sea slug are cylindrical and rounded anteriorly.
    The ventral anus or rectum is protrusible.

Similar species

Phyllidia marindica appears to be closest to P picta which is found in the western Pacific Ocean. However, P picta is more oval in shape. Single isolated tubercles occur on the notum. This individual tubercles have a broad blue base and their apex is rounded and gold.It have also blue crescentic areas on the mantle margin.
    This sea slug has often been confused with Phyllidia rueppelii which is considered by Brunckhorst to be confined to the Red Sea. P. rueppelii have single isolated tubercles gold capped and the mantle margin is edged in yellow-orange.
    This sea slug is also likely to be mistaken for the widespread Phyllidia varicosa but in that sea slug, there are always three or five longitudinal ridges on the dorsum, and of course the anus opens in the dorsal midline.

Material examined by Nathalie Yonow ( see reference/publications).

Holotype BM(NH) reg. no. 1986,231 ; Grand Baie dive site ; l'Aquarium, H. Debelius) ; 1 March 1990 ; 11 m ; size 25x10 mm. Under the name Reyfria marindica

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Fryeria marindica
   Nudipixel Phyllidia marindica

Publications :

Brunckhorst, D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
    Yonow, N. and Hayward , P. J. (1991). Opistobranches de l'île Maurice, avec la description de deux espèces nouvelles (Mollusca : Opistobranchia) Revue française d'aquariologie herpétologie, 18 (1), 1-30

Other photos of Phyllidia marindica :

Marina Poddubetskaia

Reunion, "Le platier de la Pointe au Sel", St-Leu.

Date : 7 October 2002
Size : 50-55 mm
Depth : 21m

In this specimen the single median longitudinal ridge form by yellow capped coalescent tubercles is interrupted by two norrow bridges between the two longitudinal black bands running the length of the mantle.

 

Fryeria marindica

Olivier Aubrespin

Reunion, Saint pierre lagoon, 21 April 2003

In this specimen, the tubercles usually capped in yellow, are colourless.

Hugues Flodrops

Reunion, Etang-Salé lagoon, 50 cm depth, at the end of the day, 26 April 2006, size 60 mm.

A large specimen with numerous yellow capped tubercules.

 

Philippe Bourjon

Reunion, L'hermitage lagoon, Saint Gilles, less 1 m, 8 May 2009, size : 30 mm

The single median longitudinal ridge of this sea slug is blue-grey in colour and it joins with coalesced tubercles, the larger ones of which are capped in yellow.

Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, Etang salé lagoon, less 1 m, 24 March 2010, size : 25 mm

This longitudinal black band is interrupted (a) on the right side.

 More photos from Indian Ocean

See more about : Phyllidia marindica variability in Southwest Indian ocean
   Mauritius Island, Phyllidia marindica, at Holt's Rocks, by Mathieu Bayon
   Mauritius Island, Phyllidia marindica, at Pereybere, by Marina Poddubetskaia
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica, at Saint Paul, by Maurice Jay
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica, at Saint Leu, by Guillaume Boeye  
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica, at Sainte Rose, by Sophie Albanhac  
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica in a strange position, at Saint Leu, by Guillaume Boeye 
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica with numerous yellow capped tubercules, at Saint Gilles, by Philippe Bourjon
   Mayotte, Phyllidia marindica, with numerous yellow capped tubercles, at Passe en S, by Matthias Deuss 
   Mayotte, Phyllidia marindica with numerous yellow capped tubercules, at Passe en S, by Florence Trentin  
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica sick or partially eaten, at Saint Gilles, by Philippe Bourjon
   Reunion, Phyllidia marindica dried on a rock, at Etang salé, by Philibert Bidgrain
   Seychelles, Phyllidia marindica, at Mahé, by Christophe Mason-Parker
   Madagascar, Phyllidia marindica, at Nosy Bé, by Alain-Benoît Rassat