Description ²

Ground color translucent greyish-white, with a slight opalescent blue cast on dorsal surface of foot. Large individuals may have an area of suffused orange-yellow anteriorly on head. Cerata rose-pink distally, fading in intensity proximally, and tipped with white or gold; cores dark brown to almost black, rarely very dark green. Oral tentacles bluish-white with a red-orange line on dorso-basal portion, which extends over mouth to opposite tentacle. Large individuals may also bear a sort line of same color mid-ventrally on oral tentacles. Rhinophores with 10-22 lamellae and are pale orange-yellow with rich orange-yellow on proximal lamellae.

Size ²

Typically about 30mm in length, but may exceed 70mm.

Geographic Range ²

Duxbury Reef, Marin Co., CA, to Isla de Cedros, Baja California, Mexico.

Notes ²

Preys on hydroids, and is known to attack other nudibranchs.

References ²

GODDARD, J. H. R., T. M. GOSLINER, & J. S. PEARSE. 2011. Impacts associated with the recent range shift of the aeolid nudibranch Phidiana hiltoni (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) in California. Marine Biology 158(5):1095-1109. PDF

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MARINE INVERTEBRATE TAXONOMISTS. 2018. A taxonomic listing of benthic macro- and megainvertebrates from infaunal & epibenthic monitoring and research programs in the southern California bight, edition 12, 1 July 2018, xviii + 167 pp. PDF

Synonyms ²

Phidiana pugnax Lance, 1961, Phidiana nigra MacFarland, 1966.

Additional Info ²

WoRMS

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Gary McDonald, all rights reserved, uploaded by Gary McDonald
2. (c) Gary McDonald, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
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• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Sea Slug Forum
• SeaLifeBase
• World Register of Marine Species

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