Phyllidia guamensis (Brunckhorst, 1993)

Description

An elongate phyllidiid 7–47 mm long. The black dorsum bears tubercles with white to pale grey bases capped in pale yellow. The larger mid-dorsal tubercles form an alternating series of triplets, each consisting of one central and two mediolateral tubercles. Many minute, isolated tubercles also occur around the mantle margin. The rhinophores are gold with 18–20 lamellae. Ventrally, the surface is dark grey, with the marginal tubercles showing through the hyponotum as small pale spots. The digitate oral tentacles are dark grey to black with pale yellow tips.

Distribution

Known only from Micronesia, including Guam. Type locality: Bile Bay, Guam (10 m).

Etymology

Verbatim from the original description (Brunckhorst, 1993, p.46):

The present species is named for its type locality, Guam.

Remarks

Originally described as Fryeria guamensis in Brunckhorst, D.J. 1993 Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107; now placed in the genus Phyllidia. The author noted that "F. guamensis resembles F. rueppelii. However, F. guamensis n.sp. [tubercles] are much smaller than those of F. rueppelii. The anal papilla of F. guamensis n.sp. is [larger]" (p.45). The penial spines of F. guamensis are large (12-15 µm) with a broad triangular base, contrasting with the smaller (8-10 µm), rounded-base spines of F. menindie (= Phyllidia picta).

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References

• Fryeria guamensis n.sp., Brunckhorst D.J. (1993). The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.