Phyllidiopsis cf. xishaensis ( Lin, 1983 )

Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, Zootaxa 4359 (1), pp. 1-133 : 64

Phyllidiopsis cf. xishaensis ( Lin, 1983)

( Figures 22 A–B )

Material examined. Six specimens. MHN-YT990, VISP, 12 Sep. 2013, 2m, 10mm; ZMBN117067, POB, 15m, 12mm; MB28-004882, 0 1 Jun. 2014, NHR, 9m, 7mm; ZMBN119692, 2 spcs., 23 Jun. 2014, PMP, 20m, 9 and 11mm; ZMBN105123, VIES3, 18 May 2015, 7m, 10mm, collected by Y. Tibiriçá & M. Malaquias; ZMBN105603, PP, 28 May 2015, 12m, 16mm, collected by Y. Tibiriçá & M. Malaquias.

Habitats. Subtropical rocky reefs and tropical coral reefs.

Occurrences. Ponta do Ouro, Paindane, Pomene, Nuarro and Vamizi Island.

Geographic distribution. Indo-west Pacific. Marshall Islands, Guam (Gosliner et al. 2008), China ( Lin 1983), Australia, Thailand, Maldives ( Yonow 2012), British Indian Ocean Territory ( Yonow et al. 2002), Mauritius Islands, Réunion Island, Mayotte ( Yonow 2012), Seychelles (Gosliner et al. 2008; Yonow 2012), Madagascar, South Africa (Gosliner et al. 2008) and Mozambique.

Remarks. This species is identical to the description and photograph of of P. xishaensis from the British Indian Ocean Territory ( Yonow et al. 2002). Yonow (2012) noticed that in several books, articles and website (e.g. Brunckhorst 1993, Gosliner et al. 2008) P. xishaensis had been wrongly identified as P. striata . After examination of the original illustration of P. striata on Bergh’s (1905, pag. 181), we agree that this morphotype is not P. striata . However, it also differs from the original description of P. xishaensis ( Lin 1983) because the presence of black spots on the sub-margin of the mantle, and black lines on the margin of the secondary gill.

Figures

FIGURE 22. A–B, Phyllidiopsis cf. xishaensis (ZMNB117067), dorsal and ventral view. C–D, Phyllidiopsis sp. (MB28- 004719). E, Reticulidia suzanneae (ZMBN119702). F, Dendrodoris carbunculosa (MB28-005034) juvenile. G, Dendrodoris carbunculosa (in situ). H, Dendrodoris coronata (ZMBN105084). I, Dendrodoris fumata (MB28-004511). J–K, Dendrodoris krusensternii (MB28-004728) dorsal andventral view.L, Dendrodoris krusensternii (MB28-004839).