Phyllodesmium horridum

Coral nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia; clade Euthyneura; clade Nudipleura; clade Nudibranchia; clade Dexiarchia; clade Cladobranchia; clade Aeolidida
Superfamily:	Aeolidioidea
Family:	Facelinidae
Subfamily:	Favorininae
Genus:	Phyllodesmium
Species:	P. horridum
Binomial name
	Phyllodesmium horridum; (Macnae, 1954)[1]
Synonyms
	Favorinus horridus Macnae, 1954 (basionym); Phyllodesmiopsis horridus; Phyllodesmium horridus;

Phyllodesmium horridum, the coral nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

Distribution

This species is found around the South African coast from False Bay to Sodwana Bay, intertidally to at least 30 m.[2] It has been erroneously reported from Australia and Japan due to confusion with Phyllodesmium serratum.

Description

Around the South African coast, the coral nudibranch is typically between 30 and 40 mm[3] in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied aeolid with long paired pinkish cerata. The cerata have a bluish-white stripe running down their length, as does the body. The rhinophores are smooth. This species contains no zooxanthellae.[4]

Ecology

Phyllodesmium horridum feeds on sea fans (gorgonians) of the genus Melitodes (family Melithaeidae).[2] It has also been reported to feed on gorgonians of the genus, Acabaria (also family Melithaeidae).[5] The egg ribbon is a gelatinous mass with many small white eggs.[6]

References

Macnae, W. , 1954. On some eolidacean nudibranchiate molluscs from South Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum, 13: 1-50 .
Gosliner T. M. (1987). Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 9) Phyllodesmium horridum (Macnae, 1954). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
Rudman W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies 57: 167-203
Zsilavecz G. (2007). Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3

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[1] Macnae, W. , 1954. On some eolidacean nudibranchiate molluscs from South Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum, 13: 1-50 .

[Gosliner87-2] Gosliner T. M. (1987). Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8

[Branch-3] Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0

[4] Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 9) Phyllodesmium horridum (Macnae, 1954). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

[5] Rudman W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies 57: 167-203

[6] Zsilavecz G. (2007). Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3