OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Phyllodesmium crypticum Rudman, 1981 (35mm)
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Aeolidacea
- Family: Facelinidae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #3243
- Location: Seragaki, Okinawa (26° 30.4'N, 127° 52.6'E)
- Date: 22 April, 1994 [only a single individual collected]
- Depth: 10ft (3m) [only a single individual collected]
- Water temperature at collection depth: 80°F (27°C)
- Size: TL 35mm [only a single individual collected]
- Specimen deposited: RFB Personal Research Collection
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Phyllodesmium crypticum is considered to be very rare on Okinawa as I have seen and collected only a single individual over a period of more than twenty-five years of diving here. This attractive aeolid was found crawling on the surface of silty-sand, surrounded by strewn coral rubble, during the late morning just prior to making a SCUBA exit.
Page Date: 29 Dec '97
Page Modification Date: 23 Jul '01
Digitally manipulated photo
Copyright © 2001 Robert F. Bolland
