Varicose phyllidia (Phyllidia varicosa)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF.
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
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 name
- Phyllidia varicosa
- Authority
- Lamarck, 1801
- Family
- Phyllidiidae
- Order
- Nudibranchia
- Maximum length
- 7 cm
- Depth range
- 10–20 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 4,090
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Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Phyllidia arabica Ehrenberg, 1831; Phyllidia borbonica Cuvier, 1804; Phyllidia fasciolata Bergh, 1869; Phyllidia honloni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 2026-09-23.
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 2026-09-23.
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 2026-09-23.
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