Phyllidiopsis

Abstract: The 1996 Chagos expedition collected 128 specimens of opisthobranch gastropods representing at least 50 species, of which only 41 species are described in this paper: two cephalaspideans both belonging to the genus Chelidonura, two sacoglossan species of Thuridilla, one sea hare with problematic taxonomy, and 36 species of nudibranchs. Of the nudibranchs, all the sub-orders are represented by one or two species only except the dorids, which comprise the majority of the collection. Two species are allocated to genus only, one species each of Phyllidiopsis and Dermatobranchus, while two species are similar to known species. Numerous species of Phyllidiidae were collected, but only 10 are confidently assigned to a taxon. The taxonomic identities of Hoplodoris pustulata, Dendrodoris tuberculosa, Phyllidiopsis xishaensis and Phyllidiella striata are defined and discussed. There are four new distribution records for the Indian Ocean and several species are of interest as they have been rarely recorded.

Abstract: Species of phyllidiid nudibranchs from Papua New Guinea (and other Indo-Pacific regions) are redescribed in this paper. A new species, Phyllidiella backeljaui n. sp., is described and compared with other species of the genus. External characters and internal morphology of the species studied have been examined in detail and illustrated, some of them for the first time such as Phyllidiopsis pipeki. In addition, new locations for Phyllidiella hageni and Phyllidiella zeylanica are reported from Papua New Guinea.

Abstract: A new species of phyllidiid nudibranch, Phyllidiopsis shireenae, is described. The new species has a middorsal crest instead of being flattened dorso-ventrally like most phyllidiids. Its body is a very pale shade of pink with black bands, and its rhinophores are salmon pink. The anatomy of the alimentary system and reproductive system are described. Characters originally used by Bergh (1875) to differentiate the genus are supported by this new species. Phyllidiopsis shi-reenae is presently known from coral reef habitats in the extreme western Pacific Ocean. A review of the taxonomic status of the Atlantic specis of Phyllidiopsis is required.

Abstract: With the complexity of the family Phyllidiidae and the problems of identification in the Indo-West Pacific, the story of the Red Sea species continues to unfold. One new species and one new record are added to the Red Sea fauna, both belonging to the genus Phyllidiella. Phyllidiella amphitrite sp. nov. is described from a single specimen from the northern Red Sea and clearly differs from all species of Phyllidiella in having pale yellow pigment on the tubercles. Phyllidiella zeylanica is newly recorded from the Red Sea with five specimen records and several photographed individuals; other than this, it has a western Indian Ocean distribution. Phyllidia schupporum was collected for the first time since its original description; because its distribution is now extended to the Persian Gulf, it is no longer considered endemic to the Red Sea. The distribution of the Red Sea endemic Phyllidia dautzenbergi is extended northwards to Hurghada, Egypt. A small specimen of the endemic Phyllidiopsis sinaiensis was found at 214–237 m depth just at the mouth of the Red Sea, which is a bathymetrical range extension from its previous shallow coral reef records. The identifications of other species are revisited. A new species of Paradoris is described as Paradoris hypocrita sp. nov., differing from the well-known but localised West Pacific P. liturata which also resembles a phyllidiid. This new species was recorded many years ago by published photographs, and it is relatively common in the Red Sea, evidenced by several specimens and additional photographs. It is described herein, and is considered a Red Sea endemic, differing from both the unnamed Indian Ocean species and the named Pacific species.