Phyllidia ocellata
| Phyllidia ocellata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A live individual of Phyllidia ocellata, head end towards the upper left | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Phyllidioidea |
| Family: | Phyllidiidae |
| Genus: | Phyllidia |
| Species: | P. ocellata |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllidia ocellata Cuvier, 1804 | |
Phyllidia ocellata is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Phyllidiidae.[1]
Distribution
This species is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific Ocean the Red Sea.
Description
This animal can measure up to 60 mm in length.[2] There is some variation in this species but most commonly this nudibranch has a yellow body with a dorsum covered in yellow or white tubercules. There are varying patterns on its upper body, typically between four to ten black rings edged with white surround the tubercules. Some specimens found in southern Thailand have dorsums with a mainly black background and yellow tubercles, but very little or no white colour.[3]
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Phyllidia ocellata
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Phyllidia ocellata at Verde Island, the Philippines.
Ecology
Like many nudibranchs, Phyllidia ocellata feeds on sponges. They have been observed consuming orange sponges from the Order Axinellida[4]
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "Nudi of the Week". Slugsite.us. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ Rudman, W.B. "Phyllidia ocellata". The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ Rudman, W.B. "Phyllidia ocellata". The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
Further reading
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phyllidia ocellata. |
- Brunckhorst, D.J. 1993. The systematics and phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.