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Pustulose phyllidiella

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Pustulose phyllidiella

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Family: Phyllidiidae
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Key information

Scientific name
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Common name
Pustulose phyllidiella
Family
Phyllidiidae
Habitat
Shallow tropical coral reefs, especially reef slopes, rubble areas and sponge-rich hard substrate.
Distribution
Widespread in the tropical Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean eastward through Southeast Asia to the western Pacific.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
Edibility
Not edible. Like other phyllidiid nudibranchs, it has defensive toxic or noxious chemical compounds and should never be collected or consumed.
Danger level
Caution
Usual observation depth
3–20 m
Lifespan (years)
0
Behaviour
Usually solitary and active during the day. It crawls slowly over reef surfaces while searching for prey and relies on chemical defenses rather than speed or concealment.
Observation zones
Coral reef, reef slope, reef flat, rubble, rocky substrate and sponge-rich areas.
Diet
Specialist feeder on sponges, including sponges that may provide or contain defensive chemical compounds.
Reproduction
Oviparous
Identification marks
A small, oval, dorsoventrally flattened nudibranch with a black mantle marked by longitudinal black lines and rows of rounded pale pink to whitish tubercles. The rhinophores are dark, and there are no visible external gills on the back.
Similar species
Often confused with other Phyllidiella species, especially P. rosans and P. cooraburrama. Reliable identification requires close attention to the arrangement, colour and fusion of mantle tubercles and black lines; photographs may not be sufficient for certain records.
Approach rules
Observe without touching, handling or collecting. Keep good buoyancy control and avoid contact with the reef; remain at least about 0.5 m away where practical. Do not feed it. Avoid flash photography or use only minimal, non-repeated flash.
Protection
Not listed by CITES. No global IUCN assessment is currently available; avoid collection and follow marine protected-area rules where applicable.
Conservation source
Source checked on
2026-11-08

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