Phyllidia larryi (Brunckhorst, 1993)

Description

Based on a single 6 mm holotype; adult size unknown. The dorsum is yellow with several (seven on the holotype) isolated, narrow red lines running transversely across the mantle margin. The notal tubercles are minute and rounded, evenly distributed over the dorsum. The rhinotubercles are similar to other notal tubercles, and the rhinophores share the yellow colour of the dorsum (not gold). Each rhinophoral clavus bears 8–10 lamellae. The hyponotum, foot, gills and oral tentacles are all yellow without contrasting markings. The posterior, ventral anal opening is large.

Distribution

Known only from Guam. Type locality: Bile Bay, Guam (8 m).

Etymology

Verbatim from the original description (Brunckhorst, 1993, p.47):

This species is named for my father, Larry.

Remarks

Originally described as Fryeria larryi in Brunckhorst, D.J. 1993 Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107; now placed in the genus Phyllidia. The author noted that this is "the only species of Fryeria with yellow ventral colouration. No other species of Fryeria has yellow gills. The anus in other Fryeria species is very small and often difficult to observe without a microscope, but that of F. larryi appears to be large" (p.46). The only other Fryeria species lacking black pigmentation, F. bayi, is also small but cream-white with a brownish mottled pattern, and has white rhinophores with three very oblique lamellae. Phyllidia zebrina is superficially similar but has pale cream colouration with brownish markings, larger tubercles (minute in F. larryi) and a dorsal anus.

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References

• Phyllidia zebrina, Baba, K. 1976b. Record of Phyllidia zebrina n. sp. from Sagami Bay, Japan (Nudibranchia: Doridoidea: Phyllidiidae). Venus 35(1):5-8.
• Fryeria larryi n.sp., Brunckhorst D.J. (1993). The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
• ヨコジマイボウミウシ, 中野理枝. (2004). 本州のウミウシ. ラトルズ.