Phyllidiopsis shireenae
Brunckhorst, 1993
Photographed by: Guido Zsilavecz
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Opisthobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Family: | Phyllidiidae |
| Species: | Phyllidiopsis shireenae |
Comment from Richard Willan on photo #5038
This individual has the darkest rhinophores I have ever seen, being almost maroon. They are normally pale red in colour in this species.Comment from Nathalie Yonow on photo #3475
The black almond-shaped line is clearer in this photo, as are the opposite short black lines.Comment from Nathalie Yonow on photo #3474
It is characterised by this very high central ridge, with black lines in the shape of an almond around it. Four small black lines radiate out from it in opposite directions and at right angles to each other. It is also found all over the Maldives, and is identical externally, but it is not found, for instance, in the Red Sea or Arabian seas. Biogeography is marvellous!Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1502
If the rhinophores were extended they would have been completely red. By contrast, Phyllidiopsis pipeki has half pink/half black rhinophores and compound pustules (the pustules are simple in Phyllidiopsis shireenae).Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1824
Fortunately this one species of Phyllidiidae is always easy to identify!Comment from Richard Willan on photo #1929
A typical individualComment from Neville Coleman on photo #956
With the exception of some species that have direct development, most opisthobranchs are very variable in pattern and also in colour so it takes a while to get used to looking and knowing the fact that just because one appears a bit different it might be a new species. Very few nudibranchs , even of the same species are exactly the same pattern, each is an individual as are most things in nature.Comment from Bill Rudman on photo #220
Locality:
- Indonesia
- Raja Ampat (5) Jan, Feb, Jun
- Lembeh (4) Jan, Mar, Sep, Nov
- Bunaken (3) Mar, Sep
- Manado (2) Jan, Nov
- Pulau Seribu (2) Mar, Jun
- Bali (2) Jun
- Ambon (1) Oct
- Derawan (1) May
- North Sulawesi (1) Mar
- Wakatobi (1)
- Flores (1) Mar
- Malaysia
- PNG
- Thailand
- Similan Islands (1)
- Philippines
- Palawan (1) Dec
Pictures of Phyllidiopsis shireenae
Similar Species
Author: Dr. Richard C. Willan
In Phyllidiopsis shireenae, if the rhinophores were extended they would have been completely red. By contrast, Phyllidiopsis pipeki has half pink/half black rhinophores and compound pustules (the pustules are simple in Phyllidiopsis shireenae).
