Xenia Coral Mimic Nudibranch

Phyllodesmium rudmani

Description:

This is a juvenile of Phyllodesmium rudmani or Xenia Coral Mimic Nudibranch, just around 2 cm in size. This Nudibranch takes mimicry to a high level. The body has cerata that are similiar to the closed polyps of soft coral of the genus Xenia. The cerata can even pulsate just like the Xenia corals when it is feeding. Phyllodesmium rudmani contain endosymbiotic zooxanthellae of the genus Symbiodinium hence they have the ability to photosynthesise. Pic#2 shows the same Nudibranch, in the middle of the picture, where it can hardly be seen as a Nudibranch, and next to the Xenia corals that it mimics. In the same picture, there was an even smaller similar Nudibranch that is almost all white in colour on the left of the picture, this was less than 1 cm in size.

Habitat:

Usually found among coral rubbles close/near to Xenia corals colonies.

Notes:

New Organism to Project Noah. This Nudibranch is relatively new to science, only described in 2006.

Species ID Suggestions

9 Comments

AlbertKang 7 years ago

Thanks, @venusflytrap2000 for your appreciation :)

And yes, there are a few posting of Nudibranch of the same genus - Phyllodesmium but none of Phyllodesmium rudmani and this is the first Spotting of Phyllodesmium rudmani at PN. I usually try to look up if there are other Spottings of the same Organism when I post :D

CalebSteindel 7 years ago

Wow, is this really a new species on PN? Great job, as usual, Albert! Congrats!

AlbertKang 7 years ago

Thanks, @Ashley for this SOTD.

Thanks too, @armadeus.4 for your appreciation and support :)

armadeus.4 7 years ago

Congratulations Albert! Very well deserved :)

AshleyT 7 years ago

Albert, the amazing organisms you find constantly blow my mind! This neat critter was too hard to pass up for Spotting of the Day!

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