Solanderia hydroid seaslug black

Pleurolilia juliae Burn, 1966

This species has been observed on Mayotte and Madagascar Islands

Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Aeolidina
Family : Aeolidiidae
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific.
Maximal size : 40 mm
Abundance :

Species characteristics :

The general body is maroon to black with a peppering of white speckles and a prominent mid-dorsal white streak.

The oral tentacles, rhinophores and cerata are the same colour as the body and their tips are white

Showing species characteristics...

Photo Matthias Deuss
Mayotte, Ilots d'Hajangoua, 2-3 m, 10 February 2012, size : 20 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
   Some years ago Rudman decided that Protaeolidiella atra and Pleurolilia juliae were the same species (Rudman ,W. B. 1990), the only difference being the white line in Pleurolilia juliae but Dr Baba (Baba, K. 1992) still considers the Japanese animal, Protaeolidiella atra, to be a distinct species... And all the others specialist have their own opinion...
   Others specialist considered that Protaeolidiella atra from Japan and Korea lacks a white line, has more cerata and a more elaborated egg masses.
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
               - Protaeolidiella alba (Burn, 1966)

Bibliographic data :

The cerata are slender, smooth, short and they taper evenly to a pointed tip (fusiform). They are arranged along the edge of the mantle on a slightly projecting ridge. In living specimen, the cerata appear to arise irregularly along the mantle edge.
    The rhinophore are short and stout with rounded tips
    The oral tentacles are long and they taper to pointed tips
    The egg masses consist of several pinkish coils deposited on the hydroids axes.
    Found feeding on the black hydroid Solanderia sp. This hydroid occurs under large dead coral stabs at the reef crest and on the roof of caves on step reef slopes.
    P. juliae is very well camouflaged on its host. It will never leave this hydroid

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Protaeolidiella atra
Nudipixel Protaeolidiella juliae

Publications :

Baba, K. (1955) Opisthobranchia of Sagami Bay. Supplement. Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo.
    Baba, K. (1992) Comment on the taxonomy of Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 and an allied species from Japan. Report of the Sado marine Biological Station, Niigata University, 22 : 29-35.
    Burn, R. 1966. Descriptions of Australian Eolidacea (Mollusca : Opistobranchia). 4. The genera Pleurolidia, Fiona, Learchis and Cerberilla from Lord Howe Island Journal of the Malacological Society of Australiano no. 10 : 21-34
    Rudman, W.B. (1990.) Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 and Pleurolidia juliae Burn, 1966; one species, two families (Nudibranchia). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 56(4) : 505-514.

Other photos of Pleurolilia juliae :