Coryphellina pseudolotos
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 15 mm
- Native range
- Western Pacific: Vietnam and Okinawa (Japan); possibly Queensland.
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Description
A small aeolid nudibranch described in 2022 from Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, belonging to the Coryphellina rubrolineata species complex. It is the sister species of C. lotos but keeps a translucent body throughout life, whereas C. lotos develops iridescent pigment.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/coryphellina-cf-pseudolotos-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Translucent body with three broken pink-to-lilac longitudinal lines (one dorsal, two dorsolateral). Finger-shaped cerata with white to peachy tips and strong red to violet rings below the tips. Rhinophores densely papillate, about half the length of the oral tentacles; both pink to violet with white translucent tips.
Similar species
Coryphellina lotos looks almost the same but adults develop iridescent pigmentation; C. iurmanovi has an opaque body with orange patches. DNA barcoding is often needed.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Shallow rocky reefs; holotype from about 10 m on rocky substrate.
Food
Not documented; like other Coryphellina, presumably feeds on hydroids.