Photo Image Phyllodesmium rudmani Nudibranch Phyllodesmium rudmani

PHYLLODESMIUM RUDMANI NUDIBRANCH

Phyllodesmium rudmani

Body mostly white, rhinophores smooth and very tall, oral tentacles smooth but much shorter. Found on sandy bottoms and coral reefs near soft coral Xenia sp, its sole food source. Its cerata perfectly mimic the shape and creamy colour of Xenia polyps. It can be very hard to find, because it looks like a small Xenia colony. It is one of the solar-powered species as it keeps some of the Xenia soft coral algae within its cerata. The algae photosynthesise and supply the nudibranch with sugars.
Frequency of sightings:
RARE
Best time of year:
All year round
Remarks:
Body length up to 5 cm, 3-15m depth. Only known from the Philippines and North Sulawesi.
Divesites seen at:
Air Prang, Air Prang 2, Air Prang 3, Aw Shucks, Batu Angus, Batu Merah, Batu Sandar, Critter Hunt, Pantai Parigi, Serena West, Tanjung Kubur

Taxonomical order of this critter:
Invertebrate
Mollusks
Gastropod
Nudibranch
-	Aegires gardineri Nudibranch
-	Aegires minor Nudibranch
-	Aegires villosus Nudibranch
-	Ardeadoris averni Nudibranch
-	Ardeadoris cruenta Nudibranch
-	Ardeadoris electra Nudibranch
-	Ardeadoris undaurum Nudibranch
-	Bornella anguilla Nudibranch
-	Cadlinella subornatissima Nudibranch
-	Caloria indica Nudibranch
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