Coryphellina lotos
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 15–25 mm · max 30 mm
- Depth
- 5–20 m
- Native range
- Western Pacific: confirmed from Japan and Vietnam; likely wider in the Indo-West Pacific
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Description
A slender flabellinid aeolid described in 2017 from Osezaki, Japan, and named after the lotus flower for its colouring. Part of the Coryphellina rubrolineata complex, its colour varies from translucent white through lilac to deep iridescent purple.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/coryphellina-lotos-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Body translucent white to lilac or purple, often with an iridescent sheen and three broken pink-to-lilac longitudinal lines. Cerata in up to six groups per side, with peachy tips, red to violet subapical rings and white opalescent speckles. Densely papillate rhinophores with pink-purple subapical rings and translucent tips.
Similar species
Coryphellina pseudolotos is almost identical but stays translucent as an adult, whereas C. lotos develops pigmented iridescence; DNA is needed for certainty.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Rocky and stony bottoms on sand, 5–20 m.
Food
Hydroids, like other Coryphellina.