Plakobranchus papua Meyers-Munoz & van der Velde in Meyers-Munoz et al., 2016

Mehrotra, Rahul, A. Caballer Gutierrez, Manuel, M. Scott, Chad, Arnold, Spencer, Monchanin, Coline, Viyakarn, Voranop & Chavanich, Suchana, 2021, An updated inventory of sea slugs from Koh Tao, Thailand, with notes on their ecology and a dramatic biodiversity increase for Thai waters, ZooKeys 1042, pp. 73-188 : 73

Plakobranchus papua Meyers-Munoz & van der Velde in Meyers-Munoz et al., 2016 Figure 4F, G

Material examined.

Three specimens 19-30 mm, SN.

Ecology.

Abundant in shallow soft sediment habitats and among the corals and soft sediments of the reef edge. Uncommon, but present in dense coral reef habitats. Rare in deeper soft sediment habitats outside the coral reef. Has been observed being ingested naturally by the scleractinian coral Pleuractis paumotensis (Stutchbury, 1833) but is mostly considered unpalatable by such corals ( Mehrotra et al. 2015, 2019). During daytime surveys, a single observation was made of P. papua crawling upon the sea cucumber Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830 (Fig. 4G ), which may have been considered unremarkable were it not for the findings of Mercier and Hamel (2005). Depth 1-19 m.

Distribution.

Known only from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea ( Meyers-Muñoz et al. 2016; Yonow and Jensen 2018). Known from Gulf waters of Thailand ( Mehrotra et al. 2020b).

Remarks.

Specimens from Koh Tao were recently reviewed ( Mehrotra et al. 2020b).

Figures

Figure 4. A Costasiella cf. kuroshimae 6 mm B Costasiella usagi 6 mm C Limapontiidae sp. 3 mm D Plakobranchus noctisstellatus 21 mm (photograph by Pau Urgell Plaza) E Plakobranchus ocellatus 32 mm F Plakobranchus papua 27 mm G Plakobranchus papua 21 mm on Holothuria edulis H Elysia aowthai 12 mm I Elysia asbecki 15 mm J Elysia cf. marginata 70 mm K Elysia mercieri 12 mm L Elysia obtusa 9 mm.