In : Rudman, W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 57(2) : 167-203.

Evolution in the cerata in Phyllodesmium, and its adaptation to zooxanthellae symbiosis

Basal species which lack xooxanthellae have simple cerata with unbranched digestive glande, species well-adapted for zooxanthellae (P. longicirrum) have cerata which are modified in shape and contain secondary branching of the digestive gland

The three Xenia-feeding species with flattened, slightly nodulose cerata appear to represent a separate group in ceratal evolution

Rq : Actually seven Xeniidae-feeding species are described : Only P. hyalinum, P. crypticum and P. pecten are represented in this document, and not the 4 new species : P. jakobsenae (2004) , P. tuberculatum (2009), P. lembehensis (2008) and P. lizardensis (2008)