Phyllidiopsis loricata

Phyllidiopsis loricata is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Phyllidiidae.[2]

Phyllidiopsis loricata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Phyllidioidea
Family:
Phyllidiidae
Genus:
Phyllidiopsis
Species:
P. loricata
Binomial name
Phyllidiopsis loricata
(Bergh, 1873)[1]

Distribution

This species was described from Tahiti. It has been reported from the Great Barrier Reef, Timor Sea (northern Australia), Guam, the Marshall Islands and Enewetok Atoll.[3] Specimens from Réunion in the Indian Ocean may be a different species.[3]

Phyllidiopsis cf. loricata from Réunion

Description

This nudibranch has a white dorsum with rounded black spots in a single row along both sides of the body, with a spot at the front, in front of the white rhinophores, and a similar spot at the back of the mantle. It is a moderately large Phyllidiid, growing to about 40 mm in length. It is similar to Phyllidia scottjohnsoni but that species has black spots along the midline of the back.[3] It is possible that there are several undescribed species with similar coloration.[4]

Diet

This species feeds on a white sponge.[5]

References
  1. Bergh, L.S.R., 1873. Neue Nacktschnecken der Sudsee, Malacologische Untersuchungen. Journal des Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg 2: 66-96.
  2. Bouchet, P. (2015). Phyllidiopsis loricata (Bergh, 1873). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-11-13.
  3. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 1) Phyllidiopsis loricata (Bergh, 1873). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. Johnson, S. & Johnson, J. (2016) Phyllidiopsis loricata Kwajalein Underwater.
  5. Pittman, C. & Fiene, P. (2016). Phyllidiopsis loricata Sea Slugs of Hawaii.
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