Flabellina lotos Korshunova et al., 2017

Originally named Coryphellina lotos, it is one of the red lined Flabellinids. Kurshunova et al. (2017) divided Flabellina into numerous small genera based on examination of a handful of species. Gosliner, Valdes & Behrens (2018) feel these genera intergrade into each other without clear divisions and prefer to retain all these species in Flabellina until such time that a comprehensive review of the family and genera is undertaken.

Five species of Flabellina can be distinguished by having numerous papillae on the posterior side of the rhinophores. F. lotos is one of these. The body is translucent pink with "interrupted" purple lines on midline and sides of the body. Each ceras has a purple subapical ring.

This species feeds on the hydroid, Eudendrium on shallow to deep reefs and walls.

References:

Gosliner, T.M; A. Valdes and D. W. Behrens. 2018. Nudibranch & Sea Slug Identification - Indo-Pacific- 2nd Edition. New World Publications,

Korshunova, T.; Martynov, A.; Bakken, T.; Evertsen, J.; Fletcher, K.; Mudianta, W.; Saito, H.; Lundin, K.; Schrodl, M.; Picton, B. 2017. Polyphyly of the traditional family Flabellinidae affects a major group of Nudibranchia: aeolidacean taxonomic reassessment with descriptions of several new families, genera, and species (Mollusca, Gastropoda). ZooKeys. 717: 1-139.

Marcel Tanke presently again lives in his native country, the Netherlands. He started diving during the 14 years that they lived in China and Korea. Marcel has BSAC Instructor diving level. Diving took him pretty much all over Asia and many other places. Nudibranchs became his main interest after several trips to the Philippines and Indonesia. Marcel is still using a "point and click" camera, currently Olympus TG-6.

With regard to this presentation, We made a trip of almost 7 weeks in Australia. Liveaboard on the Great Barrier Reef / Codhole, S.S. Yongala wreck, Mooloolah river -with Gary Cobb-, and Rapid Bay jetty. All very interesting and beautiful dives, but for slugs only Mooloolah river dive was interesting.; Sp species names as from Gary Cobb. Gary reported in his blog 15 species, 200+ nudibranchs.

Send Marcel email at marceltanke52@gmail.com