Author: Pola, Miguel-Gonzalez & Paz-Sedano, 2023

Order: Nudibranchia  Family: Polyceridae

Maximum Size: 9 mm

Sightings: Philippines

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Palio gaeli Pola, Miguel-Gonzalez & Paz-Sedano, 2023

The limaciform body shape is covered in numerous tubercles of differing size upon the dorsum and sides of the body. The notal edge is delineated by tubercles of medium size for the entire length of the body, joining together just posterior to the gill then continuing as a single ridge posteriorly to the extremity of the tail. Both sides of body carry a longitudinal line of large tubercles. There are four short and blunt velar tentacles the lateral being smallest. The mantle has both simple-long and cruciform spicules evenly embedded. The non-retractile rhinophores lack sheaths, are perfoliate, carrying up to 7 lamellae. The large gill is constructed of three tripinnate branches in an arc anterior to the anus. Their feathery, three pronged extremities are distinctive. Extra-branchial processes are evident consisting of three small lobes each side, medial-most being largest.

The body is basally translucent white evenly covered in pale brown to yellow spots some with a darker centre. Tubercles covered in white pigment with some bearing a dark spot. Rhinophores are translucent white with brown spots and white pigmented apices. The gill is translucent white with strong white pigmentation and brown spots on outer face of rachises. The white pigment on the tubercles of the notal edge tends to form a continuous line in some specimens and highlights this feature. Dense white pigment can also form a diamond-shaped patch on the head, just posterior to the rhinophores. 

Size to 9 mm.

Distribution thus far has been recorded in the Philippines and Marshall Islands.

This species is the Polycera sp. 8 of Gosliner et al, 2018.

David A. Mullins – November 2023

References:
– Gosliner, T. M., Valde ́s, A ́. & Behrens, D. W. (2018). Nudibranch & Sea Slug Identification – Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition. New World Publications, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

– Pola, M., Miguel-Gonzalez, M. & Paz-Sedano, S. (2023). New contributions to the subfamily Polycerinae (Nudibranchia, Polyceridae): description of three new species and one new genus. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 103, e76, 1–18. Published online by Cambridge University Press – doi.org/10.1017/ S0025315423000607