Rare at Kwajalein, this species is known from few specimens found on Kwajalein's seaward reef. Its coloration puts it into the group of nudibranchs similar to P. varicosa that might be Mullerian mimics. There has been a fair bit of variation between the few specimens we have seen, suggesting that perhaps there are more than one species on this page.
This one was in a small cave on the seaward reef at night.
The compound orange bumps dorsally make this large specimen look a lot like what we consider Phyllidia tula. However, the foot bottom lacks the central black line present in that species and the lateral sides have blue patches similar to P. picta. This variety is rare in the Marshalls, known from only two specimens found on the seaward reef at Kwajalein.
This is the foot bottom of the specimen figured in the three photos above.
The foot bottom of another individual.
Created 25 December 2006
Updated 12 June 2021