Phyllodesmium sp1

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This species has been observed on Reunion Island


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Dexiarchia
Superfamily : Aeolidioidea
Family : Facelinidae
Distribution : Mayotte
Maximal size : 5-6 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever on the fore reef zone

Species characteristics :

The general body colour is translucent and the foot bear numerous dark brown spots and the pattern is repeated on the foot corners, basal half of the oral tentacles, lower two-thirds of the rhinophores and cerata.

The upper part of the oral tentacles and rhinophores have a orange subterminal orange band and the tips is white

 

Phyllodesmium sp1
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Photo Christophe Cadet
Reunion, Etang Salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 2 January 2012, size : 5-6 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification uncertain. According Nathalie Yonow, this specimen may be a Phyllodesmium sp. or a Cuthona sp. otherwise it looks very much like a specimen from the Rudman site identified as Eubranchopsis virginalis but the cerata of E. virginalis also have a couple of rings of pointed projections, each tipped with a white spot with a black center, making this species fairly easy to identify, also it is probably an error of identification

Bibliographic data :

They are transparent and the white branches of the digestive gland are easily visible through the wall in all the cerata lengh.
    This species looks like Phyllodesmium macphersonae but in Phyllodesmium sp1 :
            - The upper part of the oral tentacles and rhinophores have a orange subterminal orange band and the tips is white.
            - The cerata have in all the lengh dark brown spots, without a white tip like in P. macphersonae

Other photos of Phyllodesmium sp1 :



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