Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   underside   pale   isolated tubercles   feeding    injured   regeneration error?   mating   laying eggs _______________   GALLERY	Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801   Maximum size:  102 mm. Identification:  This well-known species is elongate-oval with three to six longitudinal, blue-gray ridges composed of smooth, yellow-capped tubercles. The ridges may be broken or continuous. Crescent-shaped, blue-gray areas containing black spots and yellow-capped tubercles are usually present around the mantle margin. The rhinophores are yellow. A medial, black longitudinal stripe is present on the sole of the foot. Occasional animals may have little or no yellow on the tubercles. It may be distinguished from the less common Phyllidia sp. #1 by the dark stripe on its foot and its dorsally located anus. Natural history:  Phyllidia varicosa is probably the nudibranch most frequently noticed by divers. It is a common species usually found in the open on rocks, sometimes feeding on the sponge Ciocalypta sp. Occasionally, it may be seen crawling on sand in Halimeda kanaloana beds (usually where some rubble is present) and is the only phyllidiid found in that habitat. It occurs at moderately protected to highly exposed locations at depths of 1-49 m (3-161 ft). It lays a flat white egg ribbon. (Note 1) Recent studies have shown that its toxic secretions may have anti-malarial properties. (Note 2) Distribution:  Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau: widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. Taxonomic notes:  The name means "dilated veins" in reference to the swollen, vein-like ridges on the notum. In Hawaii, it is commonly referred to as the "scrambled egg nudibranch" and is referred to as the "varicose Phyllidia" in Hoover, 1998 & 2006. Photo:  PF: 58 mm: Makena, Maui; July 5, 2008. Observations and comments: Note 1: We've observed two individuals in mating position three days in a row spanning at least 48 hours. Note 2: We've observed fish, such as the jack Caranx melampygus, take this species in their mouth and spit it out immediately upon discovering its chemical defense. Their tough bodies allow them to survive such attacks, even when there is injury (see photo).
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