Phyllidia goslineri Brunckhorst, 1993

Description

Known only from a 14 mm holotype. The dorsum is cream to pale brown with irregular tan-coloured blotches spread over the entire notum. Innumerable minute, dark brown spots are evenly distributed over the dorsum. In the live specimen the bright red digestive gland mass is visible medially through the semi-transparent notum. Notal tubercles are very small and rounded, and reflect the colour of their immediate background. The rhinophores are cream and somewhat club-shaped, bearing 16–17 broad lamellae. The ventral surfaces, foot and digitate oral tentacles are entirely cream.

Distribution

Known only from a single specimen collected at Planet Rock, Madang, Papua New Guinea (12–20 m), by Dr T.M. Gosliner.

Etymology

Verbatim from the original description (Brunckhorst, 1993, p.42):

This species is named in honour of Dr T.M. Gosliner.

Remarks

Described as a new species in Brunckhorst, D.J. 1993 Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107. The author stated: "Phyllidia goslineri has characteristic colouration consisting of a translucent cream notum with irregular brown (tan) coloured blotches and numerous minute, dark brown dots. The club shaped rhinophores, foot and oral tentacles are all cream in colour ... To my knowledge, there are no other Phyllidia species with brown colouration" (p.42). P. scottjohnsoni and Phyllidiopsis loricata share cream rhinophores but have pointed (not club-shaped) rhinophores and differ markedly in tubercle pattern.

---

References

• Phyllidia goslineri n.sp., Brunckhorst D.J. (1993). The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
• テリーイポウミウシ（新称）, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.