Varicose phyllidia (Phyllidia varicosa)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF.
Last updated
Nhobgood Nick Hobgood · via Wikipedia: Phyllidia varicosa · CC BY-SA 3.0
Varicose phyllidia (Phyllidia varicosa) is a marine species in the family Phyllidiidae (Mollusca › Gastropoda › Nudibranchia), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801 under AphiaID 212835.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassGastropoda
- OrderNudibranchia
- FamilyPhyllidiidae
- GenusPhyllidia
- SpeciesPhyllidia varicosa
Named by (Lamarck, 1801)
Close relatives
Other species of Phyllidia with a Codexery entry.
- Phyllidia coelestis Phyllidia coelestis
- Phyllidia ocellata Phyllidia ocellata
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Phyllidia varicosa (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 212835 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.07 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: SeaLifeBase species summary
Where the varicose phyllidia (phyllidia varicosa) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (4,090 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 29 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Phyllidiidae · Genus: Phyllidia.
Accepted name: Phyllidia varicosa · Authority: Lamarck, 1801 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212835.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Phyllidia arabica Ehrenberg, 1831; Phyllidia borbonica Cuvier, 1804; Phyllidia fasciolata Bergh, 1869; Phyllidia honloni Risbec, 1956; Phyllidia quinquelineata Blainville, 1816; Phyllidia trilineata Cuvier, 1804.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212835 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Phyllidia varicosa. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 7 cm · Depth range: 10–20 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
SeaLifeBase notes: Assumed maximum length from Ref. 844. Found on subtidal coral reefs at depths of 10 to 20 m (Ref. 866).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 87389) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Phyllidia-varicosa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
4,090 georeferenced occurrence records for Phyllidia varicosa are published through GBIF from 57 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 350 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 49 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Indonesia (993); Australia (456); Philippines (451); United States of America (354); Thailand (324).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4359788) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4359788&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212835 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Related in Varicose phyllidia
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in Varicose phyllidia
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Phyllidia varicosa (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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