Back to genus PhyllidiaBack to the galleryAdd a comment
2026 · Photo: Boaz Liebes
Painted phyllidia
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
A medium-sized phyllidiid dorid with a velvety black body studded with gold-tipped tubercles. Like other phyllidiids it feeds on sponges and stores terpenoid compounds from them for chemical defence. Japanese specimens were long confused with Fryeria species before taxonomic revision.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/phyllidia-picta-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Deep black background with large, well-separated tubercles that have broad blue bases and rounded golden tips. The mantle edge bears blue crescent-shaped patches crossed by black rays. Three low black longitudinal ridges run along the mid-back but can be hard to see. Rhinophores golden; underside pale grey.
Phyllidia coelestis and P. varicosa have a blue-grey background with yellow-capped tubercles arranged in ridges, not a deep black body with isolated blue-based tubercles.
Coral and rocky reefs; recorded around 15 m.
Sponges.
