This species has been observed on Madagascar Island

Order : Cephalaspidea Superfamily : Philinoidea Family : Aglajidae Distribution : Indo-West Pacific Maximal size : 25 mm Abundance : Species characteristics : The body is creamish to vivid white, banded with narrow, dark brown sometimes coalescing, transverse lines. The large bump at the top is caused by the buccal bulb inside the body which in these aglajids is a long narrow muscular tube, which lies folded up inside the head
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Barbara Bini Madagascar, Nosy bé, 22 m, 14 October 2017, size : 20 mm

Remarks

Identification confirmed by Hsini Lin
    Synonymous (according worms) :
               - Aglaja lineolata H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854           
               - Philinopsis lineolata (H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854)             

Bibliographic data :

It emit a yellow fluid when it is irritated     The diet consist of polychaete worms     The Aglajidae are all carnivorous hunters. The species of the genus Philinopsis can be divided into two groups.             -"Philinopsis taronga group" corresponding to Philinopsis species(ex : P speciosa ), have a large partially eversible buccal bulb. They use the buccal bulb to catch the bubble shells and other opisthobranchs.             -In "Philinopsis pilsbryi group" corresponding to Tubulophilinopsis species (ex T. gardineri, the buccal bulb is a long and narrow muscular tube. It is possible that they use the buccal bulb as a long eversible tube which can catch prey (worms?) in narrow burrows or crevices. Species with this foregut are usually quite easy to identify in the living animal as the folds of the tube form a rounded central crest on the head

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Philinopsis lineolata
   Philippines Seaslug Tubulophilinopsis lineolata

Publications :

Adams, H. & Adams, A. 1854-1858. The genera of recent Mollusca . London
    Zamora-Silva A. & Malaquias M.A.E. (2017). Molecular phylogeny of the Aglajidae head-shield sea slugs (Heterobranchia: Cephalaspidea): new evolutionary lineages revealed and proposal of a new classification. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

Other photos of Tubulophilinopsis lineolata :

   More photos from Indian Ocean

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