Phyllidiopsis loricata
{{Short description|Species of gastropod}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Phyllidiopsis loricata.jpg
| image_caption = Phyllidiopsis loricata
| taxon = Phyllidiopsis loricata
| authority = (Bergh, 1873)Bergh, L.S.R., 1873. Neue Nacktschnecken der Sudsee, Malacologische Untersuchungen. Journal des Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg 2: 66-96.
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Phyllidiopsis loricata is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Phyllidiidae.Bouchet, P. (2015). [http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=536720 Phyllidiopsis loricata (Bergh, 1873).] In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-11-13.
Distribution
This species was described from Tahiti. It has been reported from the Great Barrier Reef, Timor Sea (northern Australia), Guam, the Marshall Islands and Enewetok Atoll.Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 1) [http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/phyllori Phyllidiopsis loricata (Bergh, 1873).]
Description
This nudibranch has a white dorsum with rounded black spots in a single row along both sides of the body, with a spot at the front, in front of the white rhinophores, and a similar spot at the back of the mantle. It is a moderately large Phyllidiid, growing to about 40 mm in length. It is similar to Phyllidia scottjohnsoni but that species has black spots along the midline of the back. It is possible that there are several undescribed species with similar coloration.Johnson, S. & Johnson, J. (2016) [http://www.underwaterkwaj.com/nudi/hawaii/h202a.htm Phyllidiopsis loricata] Kwajalein Underwater.
Diet
This species feeds on a white sponge.Pittman, C. & Fiene, P. (2016). [http://www.seaslugsofhawaii.com/species/Phyllidiopsis-loricata-a.html Phyllidiopsis loricata] Sea Slugs of Hawaii.