Phyllidia willani is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Phyllidiidae.[2]

Phyllidia willani
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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Phyllidioidea
Family: Phyllidiidae
Genus: Phyllidia
Species:
P. willani
Binomial name
Phyllidia willani
Brunckhorst, 1993[1]

Distribution edit

The holotype of this species was collected at Mactan Island, Philippines. Additional specimens from Madang, Papua New Guinea were included in the original description.[1][3]

Description edit

This nudibranch has a translucent mantle heavily spotted with opaque white. There are large yellow-capped tubercles in the middle of the back, becoming smaller and without yellow caps towards the edges of the mantle. There are two longitudinal black lines along the back which sometimes surround the tubercles and which may be broken.[3]

Diet edit

This species feeds on a sponge.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Brunckhorst D.J. (1993) The systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Records of the Australian Museum suppl. 16: 1-108.
  2. ^ Bouchet, P. (2015). Phyllidia willani Brunckhorst, 1993. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-10-28.
  3. ^ a b Rudman, W.B., 1999 (January 12) Phyllidia willani Brunckhorst, 1993. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.