Latest audit record
Conclusion: Phyllidia varicosa
Reviewed by Codex identification research on Aug 29, 2026 · 86% reviewer confidence.
Reasoning recorded at review
- Broad adult-like animal with several substantial longitudinal blue-grey tuberculate ridges
- Broad black longitudinal bands and shorter lateral black branches separate the ridges
- Many large ridge tubercles have yellow-orange caps
- Both visible lamellate rhinophores are yellow-orange
- The complete dorsal combination fits the variable adult Phyllidia varicosa series in Papu et al. (2022)
Alternatives considered
- Phyllidia haegeli
Why plausible: P. haegeli is a documented varicosa mimic with longitudinal black lines, blue-grey ridges and yellow-capped tubercles.
Comparison: The photographed angle does not establish whether the anus is dorsal or ventral, which is the key external separator in the modern revision.
- Phyllidia alyta
Why plausible: P. alyta shares a black-line and orange-tubercle pattern.
Comparison: The strong broad ridges, irregular branching bands and Papua New Guinea locality are not the western Indian Ocean P. alyta pattern described by Yonow; ventral and expert evidence would be required.
Evidence limits & sources +−
- • Anal opening position is not unambiguously visible
- • No ventral view of the foot sole or oral tentacles
- • No measured live body length
- • No rhinophoral lamella count, internal anatomy or DNA
Integrative taxonomy of Phyllidiidae ↗Primary paper · Papu et al. 2022 · Fig. 5.3a-e and P. haegeli account, PDF pp. 14-15; Fig. 6.2a-i and P. varicosa account, PDF pp. 16-17 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: The complete dorsal form strongly supports P. varicosa, but the unresolved anal position prevents exclusion of P. haegeli.Systematics and phylogeny of phyllidiid nudibranchs ↗Primary paper · Brunckhorst 1993 · Phyllidia varicosa remarks, PDF p. 29 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: The frame matches the blue-grey longitudinal tuberculate ridges and yellow caps, while the sole stripe and lamella count are not visible.Western Indian Ocean opisthobranch accounts ↗Primary paper · Yonow 2012 · Phyllidia alyta account, Fig. 17 and Plate 61 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: P. alyta is retained as a weak pattern alternative, not selected from this ridged Papua New Guinea animal.
