Phyllidiella rudmani sea slugs taken at Similan Islands, Thailand

Phyllidiella rudmani

Brunckhorst, 1993

Photographed by: Ria Qorina Lubis

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Opisthobranchia
Order:	Nudibranchia
Suborder:	Doridina
Family:	Phyllidiidae
Species:	Phyllidiella rudmani

Comment from Nathalie Yonow on photo #12916

The black rhinophores point to not Phyllidiopsis, so I think this is rudmani with a few extra black bits centrally.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #16595

This is a very important photo because it shows mating occurring between 2 different species of Phyllidiella – Phyllidiella rudmani (on top) and Phyllidiella lizae (below). This demonstrates cross-species mating does sometimes occur in phyllidiid nudibranchs. It has also been demonstrated in Chromodorididae (Risbecia spp.) and in Aglajidae bubble snails (Chelidonura spp.).

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1432

A juvenile individual.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #5566

Comment from Nathalie Yonow: Possibly. Normally in Phyllidiella rudmani the black lines do not meet in front of the rhinophores, but I can’t think of any other species except Phyllidiella krempfi, which has that distinctive line in front of the rhinophores. However, Phyllidiella krempfi usually has more black. The black frontal line and compound tubercles seem to me more like Phyllidiella krempfi but the all black rhinophores are NOT Phyllidiella krempfi.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #4221

By contrast, Phyllidiopsis pipeki is characterised by compound pustules and heavy black radial bars extending from the longitudinal lines to the margin.

Comment from Richard Willan on photo #4701

A nice photo of a typical individual actively crawling.