Philinopsis cyanea (Martens, 1879) - Aglajidae

Philinopsis cyanea

(Martens, 1879)

Photographed by: Daniela Gut

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Opisthobranchia
Order:	Cephalaspidea
Family:	Aglajidae
Species:	Philinopsis cyanea

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #3689

This individual is an example of the very sparsely spotted colour form of this extremely variable species. By contrast, Philinopsis gardineri would have a bulbous head and the posterior of the head shield would have a thin white marginal line.

Comment from Nathalie Yonow on photo #2345

This is Philinopsis cyanea (Martens, 1879), the colourful form! It is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific, and is variable in colour. Diagnostic is a blue margin and the upheld tip of the head shield. It feeds on other small opisthobranchs, bullomorphs!

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1906

An individual that is rather dark with few orange, yellow and white spots on the head shield and posterior shield.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1899

An individual that is rather dark with many white spots but few orange and yellow spots on the head shield

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1900

A rather "typical" individual with many orange and white spots on the head shield and posterior shield. But because this species is so variable in terms of coloration, it is impossible to really pick out any individual that could be called "typical". Note the raised and rounded posterior end to the head shield – at least that is a "typical" character for this species.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1904

An individual that is rather dark with few orange, yellow and white spots on the head shield and posterior shield.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1896

An individual that is rather dark with few orange and white spots on the head shield and posterior shield. Note the raised and rounded posterior end to the head shield.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1412

A very unusual individual that has hardly any white or orange spots on the head shield or parapodia.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1027

It is recognisable as Philinopsis cyanea by the blue band on the edge of the parapodia. Philinopsis taronga only occurs in temperate eastern Australia and northern New Zealand.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #911

A rather unusual individual that does not have any white spots on the head shield or parapodia.