Phyllidia ocellata Cuvier, 1804

As seen on pages 260-263 in Helmut Debelius' book, Nudibranchs & Sea Snails, Indo-Pacific Field Guide, Phyllidia ocellata is highly variable in coloration. As an additional example of this variation, consider a dramatic picture of P. ocellata taken in southeastern Papua New Guinea by Mary Jane Adams of Arcadia, Calif. Probably the most striking member of this genus of porostome dorid nudibranchs, the gills are not dorsally located, as in all other dorid groups, but located laterally under the mantle.

As mentioned in Cuvier's original description, P. ocellata can easily be separated from other Phyllidids by the tall knobby tubercles on the dorsal surface of the mantle and the 4-10 black rings bordered in white with a gold or white tubercles in the center. Some variation in the presence and number of tubercles has been observed, and in some specimens the characteristic rings may be replaced by an undulating line, as seen in the above photograph.

Measuring up to 6 cm in length, this species is found in shallow water to 20 meters, often conspicuously out in the open.

P. ocellata's bright coloration is a perfect example of aposematic or "warning" coloration in nudibranchs advising wanton predators that it gives off noxious chemicals if disturbed or eaten.

As in other porostomata, Phyllidia lack radular teeth and feed by secreting digestive enzymes into sponges, then suck the partially digested tissue into their gut.

This species is widely distributed from Tanzania; Reunion Islands; Seychelles; Red Sea to Australia; Fiji; Solomon Islands; New Guinea; Indonesia; the Philippines; Guam; Okinawa; southern Japan and the Marshall Islands.

For many years, a detective with the Frankfurt police force, Helmut's hobby of underwater photography eventually evolved into a full time profession. Having dived all over the world, Helmut especially enjoys returning to the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. His interest in the taxonomy of marine creatures has led to publication of regular articles and books of interest to Scientists and layman alike. The photo above is part of his most recent publication, Indo-Pacific Field Guide of Nudibranchs and Sea Snails, containing over 1000 photographs of marine snails taken in their natural habitat . The book excels in rarely seen behavioral aspects of marine sea slugs. For book ordering information. Send Helmut e-maill at IKANUW@aol.com

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I spotted this outrageously patterned nudibranch from thirty feet away as I swam up to a patch of reef off the coast of southeastern papua New Guinea. It was sitting in the open on the edge of the reef in ten meters of water. I added it to my collection of P. ocellata from the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, Fiji and the Philippines. This specimen has the most elaborate pattern of them all. Send Mary Jane mail at mjadams@earthlink

David W. Behrens Author: Pacific Coast Nudibranchs Co-Author Coral Reef Animals of the Indo Pacific Propriator of Sea Challengers Natural History Books Send Dave mail at seachalleng@earthlink.net

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