Phyllidiella lizae Brunckhorst, 1993

Description

A relatively large phyllidiid 16-70 mm long (mean 32 mm). The notum has a pale pink background with simple, rounded, pale pink tubercles, which are rarely coalesced. Narrow black lines of variable length cross the dorsum irregularly; on the median area they often intersect to form "X" shapes (up to four). A narrow, smooth, pale pink to white edge borders the mantle, and the rhinophoral openings are surrounded by low pink rims. The rhinophores grade smoothly from a black apex through a pink centre to a white base; specimens >35 mm bear 23-28 lamellae. The hyponotum is pale grey and the gills pale grey. The digitate oral tentacles are pale pink to white and arise from a square base. The foot sole is pale pink to white.

Distribution

Tropical western Pacific Ocean (New Caledonia, Guam, Fiji, Madang in Papua New Guinea, Norfolk Island, Great Barrier Reef, and Reunion in the Indian Ocean). Type locality: Heron Island Reef, Great Barrier Reef (9-10 m).

Etymology

Verbatim from the original description (Brunckhorst, 1993, p.63):

This species is named for a friend, my sister, Liz Hannaway.

Remarks

Described as a new species in the Brunckhorst 1993 revision of the Phyllidiidae. The related Phyllidiella rudmani is also pale pink with black lines, but is separated externally by its straight longitudinal stripes (vs the irregular criss-crossing lines of P. lizae) and taller tubercles. The two species also differ in penial-spine morphology — those of P. lizae are large with a very broad pitted base and irregular surface, whereas those of P. rudmani are smaller, slender, smooth and sinuous in shape (p.63).

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References

• Phyllidiella lizae n.sp., Brunckhorst D.J. (1993). The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 16: 1-107.
• リズイボウミウシ（新称）, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.