Version française...

This species has been observed on Mayotte Island

Order : Anaspidea Superfamily : Aplysioidea Family : Aplysiidae Distribution : Mayotte Marshall Island, Indonesia... Maximal size : 20 mm Abundance : Species characteristics : Greenish with a median dorsal line, brown with some tiny white spots Rhinophores and oral tentaclesare green at the proximal half and the distal half is translucent white
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Philibert Bidgrain Mayotte, M'bouanatsa, less 1 m, 29 July 2010, size : 20 mm

Remarks :

According Bill Rudman " The identity of the small sea hares of the genera Phyllaplysia and Petalifera is very confused and as many species are based on descriptions of preserved animals, or simply described as 'green', we will probably never be able to resolve all the older names. The situation is also confused by many authors considering that species of  Phyllaplysia lacked a shell while those of Petalifera possessed one"
    This species looks like Phyllaplysia spp. in Rudman, Seaslug Forum and Petalifera sp. in Gosliner, NSSI. So for the moment I prefered to use the term of Phyllaplysia/Petalifera sp. 1

Bibliographic data :

The genus Phyllaplysia, a name meaning 'leaf aplysia' , which is very appropriate for these small animals which are very camouflaged on the sea grasses and other plants they live on

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Phyllaplysia spp.
    Marshall Island Kwajalein Underwater : Phyllaplysia sp.

Publications :

Other photos of Phyllaplysia/ Petalifera sp. 1:

Philibert Bidgrain Mayotte, M'bouanatsa, less 1 m, 29 July 2010, size : 20 mm	Rhinophores (b) and oral tentacles (a) are green at the proximal half and the distal half is translucent white

If you have taken a photo of this species in South West Indian Ocean, please Contact us...