Phyllidiopsis sphingis

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

Phyllidiopsis sphingis
Phyllidiopsis sphingis
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. sphingis
Binomial name
Phyllidiopsis sphingis
Brunckhorst, 1993[1]

Distribution

This species was described from Pupukea, Oahu, Hawaii. It has been reported from Papua New Guinea, the Coral Sea, the northern Mariana Islands and the Philippines.[3]

Phyllidiopsis sphingis.

Description

This nudibranch has a white dorsum grading to blue at the edges. There are four longitudinal black lines interspersed with three raised ridges. The outer black lines have extensions at right angles which radiate out towards the edge of the mantle. These lines are interspersed with spots or short lines. It is a small Phyllidiid, growing to about 25 mm in length. The rhinophores are white.[3]

Diet

This species feeds on a sponge.

References
  1. Brunckhorst D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum suppl. 16: 1-108.
  2. Bouchet, P. (2015). Phyllidiopsis sphingis Brunckhorst, 1993. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-11-12.
  3. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 1) Phyllidiopsis sphingis Brunckhorst, 1993. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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