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Phyllidiopsis burni Brunckhorst, 1993
(fig. 20a-c, pl. 8 fig. 3)
Phyllidiopsis burni Brunckhorst, 1993: 74, fig. 30C, D, pl. 9B; Willan & Marshall, 1999; 127, fig. 229.Material.— RMNH.MOL.130174, RBE Stn 37, W Laha, Hitu, 1 m depth, 6.xii.1990, 35 × 12 mm pres.
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Fig. 20. Phyllidiopsis burni, 35 mm specimen with head to left of photograph (RBE stn 37). a, right rhinophore; b, ventral view with head to left of photograph; c, head and oral tentacles. |
Description.— The preserved animal is black with pale multiple, high, pointed tubercles (pl. 8 fig. 3). The body is elongated, and more tapered anteriorly and posteriorly than in other species, similar to Collingwood’s figure of ‘variabilis’ (Collingwoord, 1881: 137, pl. 10 figs 24-28, a synonym of Phyllidiella pustulosa). The tubercles are larger in the centre of the dorsum and smaller in the lateral band with a single row along the edge. The margin is thin and pink in colour, although some black may extend to the edge. The black rhinophores bear fewer lamellae than those of P. pustulosa, only 15 lamellae in the 35 mm specimen (fig. 20a). The anus consists of a very large rim located at the end of the last central tubercular group. Ventrally the foot is cream with grey speckles in the centre and paler around the edge. The top of the foot is mottled grey (fig. 20b). The anterior margin of the foot is very narrow and rounded, and the fused oral tentacles are extremely large and pink; there is a prominent dark lateral groove on each side (fig. 20c).
Remarks.— Brunckhorst (1993) described this species from material collected in Micronesia, the Great Barrier Reef, and Papua New Guinea. These new records from Indonesia confirm a western Pacific distribution. Phyllidiopsis burni is most similar externally to Phyllidiella pustulosa: the most obvious and invariable difference is the shape and colour of the fused oral tentacles. Tubercle colour, size, and arrangement can vary in both species, but those of P. burni are more pointed, multiple, and not arranged in quadrangular groups. The smooth black ground colour is more extensive in Phyllidiopsis burni, while in Phyllidiella pustulosa, there is a narrow black submarginal line inside the thin pink edge.