Phyllodesmium lizardense Lizard Island Phyllodesmium

Phyllodesmium lizardense is commonly referred to as Lizard Island Phyllodesmium. Difficulty in the aquarium: Not suitable for aquarium keeping. Toxicity: Toxic hazard unknown.

Bas Johan

Phyllodesmium lizardense,Ilot Uéré 2025

Courtesy of the author Bas Johan Bas Johan. Please visit www.inaturalist.org for more information.

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lexID:: 8259
AphiaID:: 457000

Scientific:: Phyllodesmium lizardense
German:: Fadenschnecke
English:: Lizard Island Phyllodesmium

Category:: Nudibranchs

Family tree:: Animalia (Kingdom) > Mollusca (Phylum) > Gastropoda (Class) > Nudibranchia (Order) > Myrrhinidae (Family) > Phyllodesmium (Genus) > lizardense (Species)
Initial determination:: Burghardt, Schrödl & Wägele, 2008

Occurrence:: Anilao, Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Indo Pacific, Indonesia, Lembeh Strait, New Caledonia, Philippines
Marine Zone:: Intertidal (Eulittoral), intertidal zone between the high and low tide lines characterized by the alternation of low and high tide down to 15 meters
Sea depth:: Meter
Habitats:: On living corals, Seawater, Sea water
Size:: 1.77" - 2.76" (4.5cm - 7cm)
Temperature:: 71.6 °F - 82.4 °F (22°C - 28°C)
Food:: Carnivore, Coral polyps = corallivorous, Food specialist
Difficulty:: Not suitable for aquarium keeping
Offspring:: None
Toxicity:: Toxic hazard unknown

CITES:

Not evaluated

Red List:

Not evaluated (NE)

Related species at Catalog of Life:

Author:: Meerwasser-Lexikon Team
Publisher:: Meerwasser-Lexikon.de
Created:: 2015-04-17 19:41:20
Last edit:: 2026-10-12 14:55:32

Info

Phyllodesmium lizardense Burghardt, Schrödl & Wägele, 2008

Phyllodesmium lizardense is a xenia mimic nudibranch. This species lives and feeds on Xenia soft corals.Phyllodesmium lizardense is a "solar-powered sea slug" (use the zooxanthellae of their prey).

The body,the oral tentacles, rhinophores, and foot are translucent white. The opaque white internal organs showing through the body wall.

Numerous specimens were found always inside large colonies of xeniid corals. The cerata mimic perfectly the xeniid tentacles in colour and shape.

Phyllodesmium lizardense is only known from Lizard Island.

Very similar is P.crypticum.

External links

Sea Slug Forum (en). Abgerufen am 07.08.2020.

Pictures

Commonly

Phyllodesmium lizardense, 20mm,Anilao 2020

Phyllodesmium lizardense,Païta, Nouvelle-Calédonie 2026

Phyllodesmium lizardense,Romblon Philippines 2018

Phyllodesmium lizardense,Batangas, Philippines 2026

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