Phyllidia flava Aradas, 1847
Superdomain | Biota | |
Kingdom | Animalia | |
Phylum | Mollusca | |
Class | Gastropoda | |
Subclass | Heterobranchia | |
Infraclass | Euthyneura | |
Subterclass | Ringipleura | |
Superorder | Nudipleura | |
Order | Nudibranchia | |
Suborder | Doridina | |
Infraorder | Doridoidei | |
Superfamily | Phyllidioidea | |
Family | Phyllidiidae | |
Genus | Phyllidia | |
Species | Phyllidia flava Aradas, 1847 | |
| Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017) Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 140774). | ||
- Phyllidia aurata Pruvot-Fol, 1952
- Phyllidia depressa Aradas, 1847
- Phyllidia papillosa Aradas, 1847
- Phyllidia pulitzeri Pruvot-Fol, 1962
- Phyllidia rolandiae Pruvot-Fol, 1951
Description
The specimens of this interesting species measure about 20-30 mm in length. This is a distinct species because of its lemon yellow colouring and the tubercles of the back which are of two types: some large, white and rounded ones and smaller, conical and coloured like the body and more abundant in the back of the dorsum. Albino specimens are known. The rhinophores are fully retractable, small, orange-brown coloured and have about 10-13 lamellae. The rhinophoric sheath has two small tubercles. There are no gill leaves around the anal papilla, which is located in the rear of the mantle and is surrounded by four small conical tubercles. Gill leaves are located beneath the mantle borders, between them and the body side walls on both sides. The gill leaves are numerous, small, triangular, alternating a smaller one with a somewhat bigger one. They are yellow like the body. Beneath the mantle, about 10-15 MDF’s white glands can be observed. The foot is coloured soft orange, it is narrow, with a rounded front and a sharp rear. The mouth has a pair of wide, yellow triangular labial palps.
Biology
This is a rare species in the western Mediterranean, where it is often found in coraligenous bottoms on sponges like Axinella cannabina, A. polypoides and Acanthella acuta. It has been proven that feeds on the latter. Specimens of P. flava have a very characteristic smell and when disturbed secrete a whitish antipredator substance of sesquiterpenoid structure (Wägele et al. 2006). The spawn is a relatively wide coiled ribbon with orange coloured eggs (Trainito & Doneddu, 2014).
Etymology
- Phyllidia. From Greek “Phyllon”, leaf + “eîdos”, something seen, form.
- Flava. From Latin “flavus”, yellow, golden.
Distribution
It seems to be endemic to the Mediterranean Sea but it has also been cited in the Canary Islands (Ortea et al. 2001). In the Iberian Peninsula it has only been cited in the Catalan coast (at Es Caials, Cadaqués, in the Medes Islands and in the trawling bottoms “Els Capets” between Pineda de Mar and Blanes), also in the Balearic Islands (Cervera et al. 2004).
| Sources: | |
 : OBIS : GROC 2010-2011 : Enric Madrenas : João Pedro Silva : Bernard Picton : GBIF.ORG |  : OPK : VIMAR : Manuel Ballesteros. : M@re Nostrum : Altres fonts : Marine Regions |
Abundance
| Western Mediterranean: |  |
| Eastern Mediterranean: | |
| Atlantic Ocean: | |
More pictures
Bibliography
Aguado, F., and S. López González. 2015. Moluscos Nudibranquios de la Costa Tropical. Asociación Buxus & Ayuntamiento de Motril.
Altimira, C., M. F. Huelin, and J. Ros. 1981. Mol·luscs bentònics de les illes Medes (Girona). I. Sistemàtica. Butll. Inst. Cat. Hist. Nat. (Sec. Zool.), 47: 69-75.
Aradas, A. 1847. Memorie di Zoologia Siciliana. Memoria III. Descrizione di alcuni molluschi nudi della Sicilia. Atti dell’Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali, (2)4: 107-122, pl. 1.
Ballesteros, M. 2007. Lista actualizada de los opistobranquios (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira. 2: 163–188.
Ballesteros, M., E. Madrenas, and M. Pontes. 2019. OPK - Opistobranquis. (https://opistobranquis.info/).
Ballesteros, M., E. Madrenas, and M. Pontes. 2016. Actualización del catálogo de los moluscos opistobranquios (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira 6(2016): 1-28.
Ballesteros, M., M. Pontes, and E. Madrenas. 2015. Opisthobranch from Medes Islands (Marine Protected Area, Costa Brava, Catalonia, NE Spain): 40 years of study.
Barash, A., and Z. Danin. 1982. Mediterranean Mollusca of Israel and Sinai: composition and distribution. Israel Journal of Zoology, 31, 86-118.
Barletta, G. 1974. Genus Phyllidia Cuvier, 1798. Phyllidia pulitzeri Pruvot-Fol, 1962. Schede Malacologiche des Mediterraneo 43:1-4.
Barletta, G. 1974. Secondo reperto di Phyllidia pulitzeri Pruvot-Fol, 1962. Natura, Rivista di Scienze Naturali, Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali, Milano 65(1-2):25-32, pl 1.
Bedulli, D., R. Cattaneo-Vietti, R. Chemello, F. Ghisotti, and F. Giovine. 1995. Gastropoda Opisthobranchia, Divasibranchia, Gymnomorpha, Fascicolo 15, pp. 1-23. In: A. Minelli, A. Ruffo, & S. La Posta (Eds.). Checklist delle specie fauna italiana, Checklist delle specie della Fauna Italiana. Calderini, Bologna.
Bielecki, S., G. Cavignaux, J. M. Crouzet, and S. Grall. 2011. Des limaces de rêve.
Brunckhorst, D. J. 1993. The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum suppl. 16: 1-108.
Brunckhorst, D. J., and R. C. Willan. 1988. Critical review of the taxonomic status of Mediterranean Phyllidia (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia: Doridoidea). Bollettino Malacologico (Pubblicazione Mensile Edita dalla Societa Italiana di Malacologia) 24(9-12):205- 214.
Cattaneo-Vietti, R. 1982. Opisthobranch molluscs of the Sorrentine Peninsula caves. Bollettino dei Musei e degli Istituti Biologici dell’Università di Genova [Atti del XIV Congresso della Societa Italiana di Biologia Marina] 50(suppl.):376-377.
Cattaneo-Vietti, R., and G. Barletta. 1984. Elenco preliminare dei molluschi opistobranchi viventi nel Mediterraneo (Sacoglossa, Pleurobranchomorpha, Acochlidiacea, Aplysiomorpha, Nudibranchia). Bollettino Malacologico (Pubblicazione Mensile Edita dalla Societa Italiana di Malacologia) 20(9-12):195-218.
Cattaneo-Vietti, R., and R. Chemello. 1987. Alcune considerazioni sui molluschi opistobranchi della Sicilia. Bollettino Malacologico (Pubblicazione Mensile Edita dalla Societa Italiana di Malacologia) 23(5-8):207-222.
Cattaneo-Vietti, R., and T. E. Thompson. 1989. Mediterranean opisthobranch molluscs: a zoogeographic approach. Bollettino Malacologico (Pubblicazione Mensile Edita dalla Societa Italiana di Malacologia) 25(5-8):183-204.
Cattaneo-Vietti, R., R. Chemello, and R. Giannuzzi-Savelli. 1990. Atlante dei nudibranchi del Mediterraneo. La Conchiglia, Rome 264 pp, 14 pls. (104 clr. ill), line drawings.
Cervera, J. L., G. Calado, C. Gavaia, M. A. E. Malaquías, J. Templado, M. Ballesteros, J. C. García-Gómez, and C. Megina. 2004. An annotated and updated checklist of the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Spain and Portugal (including islands and archipelagos). Boletín Instituto Español de Oceanografía, 20 (1-4): 1-111. L.
Crocetta, F., H. Zibrowius, G. Bitar, J. Templado, and M. Oliveiro. 2013. Biogeographical homogeneity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea - I: the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Lebanon. Mediterranean Marine Science, Vol 14, no.2.
Dacosta, J. M., M. Pontes, A. Ollé i Callau, and L. Aguilar. 2009. Seguiment de mol·luscs opistobranquis a la platja des Caials (Cadaqués, Alt Empordà). Contribució al catàleg del Parc Natural de Cap de Creus. Annals de l’Institut d’Estudis Empordanesos. 40: 107–130.
Debelius, H., and R. H. Kuiter. 2007. Nudibranchs of the world. IKAN- Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt.
Dekker, R. 1986. On a small collection of opisthobranch mollusc from Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). Anales de Biología 7 (Biología Animal 2): 3-4.
Doneddu, M., B. Manunza, and E. Trainito. 1995. Opistobranchi del Nord Sardegna: censimento ed annotazioni. Biologia Marina Mediterranea II (2): 369-370.
Flanders Marine Institute. 2018. Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase: Territorial Seas. Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase. (http://www.marineregions.org/).
Garcia, F. J., and H. Bertsch. 2009. Diversity and distribution of the Gastropoda Opisthobranchia from the Atlantic Ocean: A global biogeographic approach. Scientia Marina. 73: 153–160.
Huelin, M. F., and J. Ros. 1984. Els mol·lucs marins de les illes Medes In: Els sistemes naturals de les Illes Medes. Arxius de la Secció de Ciéncies, J Ros et al (eds) 73: 457-500. IEC. Barcelona, Spain.
Long, S. J. 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000. Bayside Books & Press, Tustin, CA, U.S.A. 672p.
McDonald, G. 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia. 2nd Online Edition, Annotated. 1072 pp Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz. (http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8115h0wz).
Moro, L., J. L. Martín Esquivel, M. J. Garrido Sanahuja, and I. Izquierdo Zamora. 2003. Lista de especies marinas de Canarias (algas, hongos, plantas y animales). Consejería de Política Territorial y Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Canarias.
Ortea, J. A., L. Moro, J. J. Bacallado, and R. Herrera. 2001. Catálogo actualizado de los Moluscos Opistobranquios de las Islas Canarias. Revista de la Academia Canaria de Ciencias 12 (3-4): 105-136.
Ozturk, B., A. Dogan, B. Bitlis-Bakir, and A. Salman. 2014. Marine Molluscs of the Turkish Coasts: An Updated Checklist. Tübitak, Turkish Journal of Zoology 38.
Pontes, M., J. M. Dacosta, A. Ollé i Callau, and L. Aguilar. 1996. M@re Nostrum. (http://marenostrum.org/).
Prkić, J., A. Petani, Ð. Iglić, and L. Lanča. 2018. Stražnjoškržnjaci Jadranskoga Mora: Slikovni Atlas i Popis Hrvatskih Vrsta / Opisthobranchs of the Adriatic Sea: Photographic Atlas and List of Croatian Species. Ronilaćki Klub Sveti Roko, Bibinje.
Pruvot-Fol, A. 1954. Mollusques opisthobranches. Faune de France, 58. Paul Lechevalier, Paris.
Ros, J. 1981b. Noves citations de Gasteropòdes opistobranquis de les Gimnésies. Boletín del Instituto Catalán de Historia Natural 47 (Secció Zoología 4): 175-177.
Ros, J. 1980b. Phyllidia pulitzeri Pruvot Fol, 1962 a Catalunya. Boletín del Instituto Catalán de Historia Natural 45 (Secció Zoología 3): 181-183.
Ros, J. D. 1985b. Els poblaments d’Opistobranquis de coves submarines mediterránies: noves dades i comentaris sobre llur afinitat faunistica. Boletín del Instituto Catalán de Historia Natural 52 (Secció Zoología 6): 87-94.
Ros, J., and J. M. Gili. 1985. Opistobranches des grottes sousmarines de I’lle de Majorque (Baleares). Rapport de la Commision Internationale de la Mer Mediterranée 29 (5): 141-145.
Rudman W.B. et al. 1998. Phyllidia flava accessed through: Sea Slug Forum on 2014-12-14. (http://seaslugforum.net/showall/phylflav).
Sabelli, B., R. Gianuzzi-Savelli, and D. Bedulli. 1990. Catalogo annotato dei Molluschi marini del Mediterraneo. Libreria Naturalistica Bolognese. Bologna, Italy: 348 pp.
Sammut, C. R., and A. S. Perrone. 1998. A preliminary check-list of Opisthobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from the Maltese Islands. Basteria 62(5-6): 221-240.
Schmekel, L., and A. Portmann. 1982. Opisthobranchia des Mittelmeeres, Nudibranchia und Saccoglossa. Fauna e Flora del Golfo Napoli. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Schrödl, M., and H. Wägele. 2001. Anatomy and histology of Corambe lucea Marcus, 1959 (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Doridoidea), with a discussion of the systematic position of Corambidae. Organisms Diversity & Evolution 1: 3-16.
Templado, J., and R. Villanueva. 2010. Checklist of Phylum Mollusca. pp. 148-198 In Coll, M., et al., 2010. The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: estimates, patterns, and threats. PLoS ONE 5(8):36pp.
Terlizzi, A., D. Scuderi, S. Fraschetti, P. Guidetti, and F. Boero. 2003. Molluscs on subtidal cliffs: patterns of spatial distribution. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 83(1):165-172.
Trainito, E. 2005. Nudibranchi del Mediterraneo : guida al riconoscimento dei molluschi opistobranchi. Il Castello, Trezzano sul Naviglio (Milano).
Trainito, E., and M. Doneddu. 2014. Nudibranchi del Mediterraneo, 2a. ed. Il Castello.
Trainito, E., and S. Trainito. 2003. Mediterranean harlequins : a field guide to Mediterranean sea slugs. Taphros, Olbia (SS), Italia.
Further reading
Cite this article as:
Ballesteros, Manuel, Enric Madrenas, Miquel Pontes (2012-2019) "Phyllidia flava" in OPK-Opistobranquis, Published: 16/05/2012, Accessed: 20/10/2019 at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/y28in)
