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Phyllidiopsis shireenae Brunckhorst, 1990
(pl. 8 fig. 5)
Phyllidiopsis shireenae Brunckhorst, 1990: 557, figs 1-4; Brunckhorst, 1993: 66, pl. 8B, fig. 29F, G; Fahrner & Beck, 2000: 190, 200, pl. 1 fig. 3; Domínguez et al., 2007: 99, fig. 7.
Material.— Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi, 5-15 m depth, xi.1990, photos only, H. Debelius (also in Debelius & Kuiter, 276, right photo).
Non-Indonesian material.— Papua New Guinea, Laing Island, 10-20 m depth, 1977, leg. J. van Goethem, ten pres. specimens ranging in size from 24 × 7.5 mm to 55 × 32 mm; Philippines, photo only of one individual, H. Debelius.
Description.— The body shape is elongate oval with a very high profile, semi-translucent white with a pink cast and a black line around the central region with four narrower lines extending at right angles to the margin: these secondary lines oppose each other. The median region bears a high crest of tubercles with a lower one on each side. The crests are composed of granular and pustular compound tubercles (pl. 8 fig. 5), opaque in comparison with the rest of the body. The rhinophores and anal papilla are included within the black oval; both issue from raised rims. The translucent pink-white rhinophores have an opaque tip; the anal opening is conical and located on the last tubercle of the central crest. No notes or drawings were made of the ventral surface, but the specimens from Papua New Guinea are described and illustrated by Domínguez et al. (2007: 99). Four specimens from the Maldives were examined and match the illustrations in Domínguez et al. (2007) (Yonow, in press).
Remarks.— Phyllidiopsis shireenae is well distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific and appears to be common where it occurs (e.g. Papua New Guinea, Maldives). It is remarkable that it was not found during the Rumphius B. Expedition. It was photographed from Indonesia by Fahrner & Beck (2000), Tonozuka (2003), Debelius & Kuiter (2007: right photo only), and on NudiPixel. It may be confused with P. pipeki (see above).