Phyllodesmium horridum

Phyllodesmium horridum, the coral nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

Coral nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Aeolidida
Superfamily:
Aeolidioidea
Family:
Facelinidae
Subfamily:
Favorininae
Genus:
Phyllodesmium
Species:
P. horridum
Binomial name
Phyllodesmium horridum
(Macnae, 1954)[1]
Synonyms
  • Favorinus horridus Macnae, 1954 (basionym)
  • Phyllodesmiopsis horridus
  • Phyllodesmium horridus

Distribution

This species is found around the South African coast from False Bay to Sodwana Bay, intertidally to at least 30 m.[2] It has been erroneously reported from Australia and Japan due to confusion with Phyllodesmium serratum.

Description

Around the South African coast, the coral nudibranch is typically between 30 and 40 mm[3] in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied aeolid with long paired pinkish cerata. The cerata have a bluish-white stripe running down their length, as does the body. The rhinophores are smooth. This species contains no zooxanthellae.[4]

Ecology

Phyllodesmium horridum feeds on sea fans (gorgonians) of the genus Melitodes (family Melithaeidae).[2] It has also been reported to feed on gorgonians of the genus, Acabaria (also family Melithaeidae).[5] The egg ribbon is a gelatinous mass with many small white eggs.[6]

References
  1. Macnae, W. , 1954. On some eolidacean nudibranchiate molluscs from South Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum, 13: 1-50 .
  2. Gosliner T. M. (1987). Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  3. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
  4. Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 9) Phyllodesmium horridum (Macnae, 1954). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  5. Rudman W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies 57: 167-203
  6. Zsilavecz G. (2007). Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
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