Phyllidia varicosa

Phyllidia varicosa is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Phyllidiidae.[2]

Phyllidia varicosa
A live individual of Phyllidia varicosa, head end towards the left
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:
Phyllidia
Species:
P. varicosa
Binomial name
Phyllidia varicosa
(Lamarck, 1801)[1]
Phyllidia varicosa, a view from the head end

Distribution

This species is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific Oceans including the central Pacific and the Red Sea.[3]

Description

This is a large species growing to at least 115 mm. It can be distinguished by its numerous (3 to 6), longitudinal, tuberculate notal ridges. The ridge and bases of the tubercles are a blue-grey colour. The tubercles are capped in yellow. The foot sole has a black longitudinal foot stripe. The rhinophoral clavus possesses 27 to 30 lamellae.[4]

Mimicry

Juveniles of the sea cucumber, Pearsonothuria graeffei are brightly coloured and closely resemble Phyllidia varicosa. They are white and blue or black, with a few large, yellow, thorn-like projections. These bright colours warn predators of the toxicity of the nudibranch, and this mimicry on the part of the sea cucumber species serves to protect it also. The adult sea cucumber has much duller colouration, but it is also much larger than the sea slug and has its own toxic chemicals at this stage.[5]

References
  1. Lamarck, J.B. (1801). Systeme des animaux sans vertebres. Paris.
  2. Bouchet, P. (2015). Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-11-15.
  3. Brunckhorst, D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
  4. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (January 12) Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  5. Invertebrate of the month: Pearsonothuria graeffei Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
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