Phyllidiella pustulosa
| Phyllidiella pustulosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A view of a live Phyllidiella pustulosa, head end towards the front | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Phyllidioidea |
| Family: | Phyllidiidae |
| Genus: | Phyllidiella |
| Species: | P. pustulosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllidiella pustulosa (Cuvier, 1804) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Phyllidiella pustulosa is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Phyllidiidae.[2] [1]
Distribution
This species is one of the most common nudibranchs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific.[3]
Description
Although this nudibranch changes appearance as it grows, three median clusters of (usually) pink tubercles remain the same, except that they are amalgamated in juveniles and separated in large animals. These tubercles can range in color from pink to green to white. The intensity of the pink coloration and green-grey tones may possibly be related to diet, and the length of time since last feeding. Other distinguishing features are the pale pink edge of the mantle, the broad, triangular, black tipped oral tentacles and the rhinophoral clavus possessing 22 to 26 lamellae (in specimens greater than 35 mm).[4]
References
- 1 2 Rosenberg, G.; Bouchet, P. (2012). Phyllidiella pustulosa. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=536574 on 2012-06-07
- ↑ Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. ISBN 3-925919-72-4. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp. http://www.vliz.be/Vmdcdata/imis2/ref.php?refid=78278
- ↑ "Phyllidiella pustulosa & Pseudoceros imitatus". Rfbolland.com. 1993-04-03. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ Rudman, W.B. "Phyllidiella pustulosa". The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- Valdés Á. (2001) Deep-water phyllidiid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Phyllidiidae) from the tropical south-west Pacific Ocean. In: P. Bouchet & B.A. Marshall (eds), Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos, volume 22. Mémoires du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 185: 331-368.
Further reading
- Brunckhorst, D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
- Brunckhorst, D.J. 1993. The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
- Gosliner, T. Behrens, D.W. and Williams, G.C. 1996. Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific. Sea Challengers, Monterey, California.
- Litvaitis M.K. & Newman L.J., 2002. Color, Color Patterns and Mimicry.
- Newman, L.J.; Cannon, L.R.G.; Brunckhorst, D.J. 1994. A new flatworm (Platyhelminthes Polycladida) which mimics a Phyllidiid nudibranch (Mollusca, Nudibranchia). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 110(1): 19-25. [publ. not seen by RFB]
- Newman, Leslie & Lester Cannon. 2003. Marine Flatworms: The World of Polyclads. vii + 112 pp. CSIRO Publishing.
- Rudman, W.B., 1998 (June 25). Mimicry - Phyllidiella, flatworms, Chromodoris [In] Sea Slug Forum.
- Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 11). Comment on About Mimicry & flatworms by Christine. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum.
- Seifarth, W. 2004. Marine Flatworms of the World. http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~bu6/flatintr.htm]