Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828)

We assume all these different color forms are Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus but have done no anatomical work to try to confirm this. They are found in a variety of intertidal and shallow lagoon habitats. One of the better places to see them is in lagoon slope Halimeda patches at night.

The next photo of a specimen from Kwajalein Atoll has markings like those described for Phanerophthalmus albocollaris Heller & Thompson, 1983, from the Red Sea. I have not seen the original description, but it was quoted in the Sea Slug Forum as "yellowish brown, the central area being blackish. The posterior flaps of the headshield are coloured in a very conspicuous white, which forms the shape of a W." The white "W" is very obvious in this photo of this 16mm specimen found under dead coral at a depth of 8m. However, we are inclined to think this one at least is a color form of P. smaragdinus.

Heller, J. & Thompson, T.E. (1983) Opisthobranch molluscs of the Sudanese Red Sea. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 78(4): 317-348.

Created 27 January 2007
Updated 26 November 2007