Relevant Synonyms Learchis indica Bergh, 1896 Phidiana indica (Bergh) [Israel] Misidentification -  photo: G. Gat

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body narrow and slender with a very long and pointed tail. Oral tentacles notably longer than rhinophores and cerata, and sharply tapering. Anterior foot corners prolonged into pointed tentacles. Rhinophores smooth. Cerata arranged in six distinct clusters with a few single cerata at the posterior end. color : body color translucent orange with a paler foot, almost white. Head orange with two white streaks running forward from the base of each rhinophore. Cerata, rhinophores and oral tentacles with vivid colors. Cerata banded with deep red, orange, blue, yellow, and white. Oral tentacles orange basally, yellow in the middle, with a white distal part. Rhinophores with an orange basal region, followed by a short white band and yellow tip. Tail and foot tentacles yellow-tipped. common size : up to 50 mm in length, usually between 20 and 30 mm. The Mediterranean specimens measured 13 and 15 mm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This large aeolid is characterized by an orange head with two white streaks, and by the distinctive bright color of the cerata. The unique native species of the genus Caloria in the Mediterranean, C. elegans (Alder and Hancock, 1845), has a white body color with a conspicuous subapical black spot in each ceras. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY In the Indo-Pacific it is active during the day and feeds on hydroids (genera Salacia, Halocordyle, and Eudendrium). habitat : relatively shallow reef, down to 15 m deep, and rock pools.

1st Mediterranean record Israel, 1993 [1986]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide: widespread in the Indo-Pacific. Mediterranean: only known as Phidiana indica for a couple of specimens found in 1986 off Ashqelon, Israel (Gat, 1993). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Only the recorded specimens. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Possibly via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Gat G., 1993. Flabellina rubrolineata (O'Donoghue) and Phidiana indica (Bergh) (Nudibranchia Aeolidioidea), two new Lessepsian immigrants in the Eastern Mediterranean. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 59: 120. Gosliner T.M., 1987a. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa. Sea Challengers, Monterey, 136 p. Marshall J.G. and Willan R.C., 1999. Nudibranch of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Backhuys, Leiden, 257 p.   Rudman W.B., 1980. Aeolid opisthobranch molluscs (Glaucidae) from the Indian Ocean and the south-west Pacific. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 68(2): 139-172. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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