Michael Eisenbart
Info
Phidiana anulifera (Baba, 1949)
This species was described from Sagami Bay, Japan.
The body is translucent white with a dense array of opaque white spots. The mouth tentacles have a broad reddish-orange band near the base and sometimes another near the tip. The area between these bands is opaque white, the tip is translucent clear.
The rhinophores have about six distinct and sharp-edged rings. Below the rings, the rhinophore stalk is translucent clear with scattered white spots. The annular area is opaque white and the tip is translucent clear.
There are two thin orange-red lines on the head that run from the inner base of the mouth tentacles back to the rhinophores. A continuation of these lines runs around the back of the rhinophores and up to the first ceratan group on each side. This red-orange line reappears along the side of the body between each cerata group and also runs a short distance from the last cerata group back to the rear foot.
Phidiana anulifera is found in rock pools at low tide, found in rock pools with lots of small pebbles, hydroids, and various crustal organisms.
It shows similarities in color and shape with Phidiana semidecora (Pease, 1860) from Hawaii. Some authors suspect that they are the same species. However, there are color differences. Although Phidiana semidecora is reported to have orange markings on the head, they are never found as line pairs as in Phidiana anulifera. The Hawaiian species does not appear to have any orange lines along the sides of the body between the cerat groups. There is also no report of rows of white spots on the cerata.
Synonymised names
Facelinella anulifera Baba, 1949 · unaccepted
This species was described from Sagami Bay, Japan.
The body is translucent white with a dense array of opaque white spots. The mouth tentacles have a broad reddish-orange band near the base and sometimes another near the tip. The area between these bands is opaque white, the tip is translucent clear.
The rhinophores have about six distinct and sharp-edged rings. Below the rings, the rhinophore stalk is translucent clear with scattered white spots. The annular area is opaque white and the tip is translucent clear.
There are two thin orange-red lines on the head that run from the inner base of the mouth tentacles back to the rhinophores. A continuation of these lines runs around the back of the rhinophores and up to the first ceratan group on each side. This red-orange line reappears along the side of the body between each cerata group and also runs a short distance from the last cerata group back to the rear foot.
Phidiana anulifera is found in rock pools at low tide, found in rock pools with lots of small pebbles, hydroids, and various crustal organisms.
It shows similarities in color and shape with Phidiana semidecora (Pease, 1860) from Hawaii. Some authors suspect that they are the same species. However, there are color differences. Although Phidiana semidecora is reported to have orange markings on the head, they are never found as line pairs as in Phidiana anulifera. The Hawaiian species does not appear to have any orange lines along the sides of the body between the cerat groups. There is also no report of rows of white spots on the cerata.
Synonymised names
Facelinella anulifera Baba, 1949 · unaccepted
