Phyllidia multifaria Yonow, 1986

Description

Background colour black with pink tubercles capped in white to yellow. The dorsal pattern closely resembles that of Phyllidia elegans, but this species is distinguished by a black median longitudinal line on the sole of the foot.
Body length reaches approximately 30 mm.

Distribution

Type locality: Red Sea. Distributed on coral reefs from the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.

Etymology

The specific epithet multifaria is Latin for "manifold" or "of many kinds", likely referring to the considerable variation in colour pattern.

Remarks

A member of the family Phyllidiidae. Feeds on sponges.
Synonymized with Phyllidia elegans by a 1993 revision of the Phyllidiidae, but now recognized as a valid species. The black median longitudinal line on the foot sole is a key diagnostic character absent in P. elegans.
Phyllidia schupporum Fahrner & Schrödl, 2000 is considered a synonym of this species.

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References

• Phyllidia multifaria n.sp., Yonow, N. (1986). Red Sea Phyllidiidae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) with descriptions of new species. Journal of Natural History. 20(6): 1401-1428.