Phyllodesmium longicirrum
(Bergh, 1905)
Photographed by: Dave Harasti
According to Dr. Richard Willan: It is the only species of Phyllodesmium to have the branching ducts of the digestive gland (white ducts) extending into the head, oral tentacles, rhinophores and foot as well as the cerata, and also the accumulations of zooxanthellae at the end of these branches (brown masses) form a circular pattern at the surface. These characteristics, in combination with the flattened upper section of the cerata, appear to me to justify either generic or subgeneric distinction from Phyllodesmium. In fact the genus Myrrhine used to be used just for Phyllodesmium longicirrum and a phylogenetic analysis of all species now known in the genus may well show it to be valid.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Opisthobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Aeolidina |
| Family: | Facelinidae |
| Species: | Phyllodesmium longicirrum |
Comment from Richard Willan on photo #319
Single cerata showing branching ducts of the digestive gland internally (white ducts) and accumulations of zooxanthellae at the surface at the end of these branches (brown masses).Locality:
- Indonesia
- Lembeh (25) Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov
- Wakatobi (5) Mar, Apr, May, Nov
- Raja Ampat (4) Mar, May, Dec
- Ambon (4) May, Oct
- Komodo (4) Jun, Jul, Oct
- Bali (3) Jan, Feb, Dec
- Manado (3) Jan, Oct, Nov
- Bangka North Sulawesi (2) Sep
- Rinca Island (2) Dec
- North Sulawesi (2) Apr, Jun
- Alor (1) Apr
- Flores (1) Oct
- Taka Bonerate (1) Dec
- Kaimano (1) Apr
- Philippines
- Malapascua (2) Apr, Sep
- Anilao (2) Jul, Sep
- Philippines (1) Mar
- Puerto Galera (1) Jul
- PNG
- Malaysia
- Australia
- Great Barrier Reef (1) Aug
- Timor-Leste
- Timor-Leste (1) Jan
