Vesicular sea slug (Phyllidiella pustulosa)
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
Vesicular sea slug (Phyllidiella pustulosa) is a marine species in the family Phyllidiidae (Mollusca › Gastropoda › Nudibranchia), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Phyllidiella pustulosa (Cuvier, 1804) under AphiaID 536574.
- Scientific name
- Phyllidiella pustulosa
- Authority
- (Cuvier, 1804)
- Family
- Phyllidiidae
- Order
- Nudibranchia
- Maximum length
- 6 cm
- Depth range
- 6–38 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 3,523
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Phyllidiidae · Genus: Phyllidiella.
Accepted name: Phyllidiella pustulosa · Authority: (Cuvier, 1804) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 536574.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Fryeria variabilis Collingwood, 1881; Phyllidia melanocera Yonow, 1986; Phyllidia nobilis Bergh, 1869; Phyllidia nobilis var. rotunda Eliot, 1904; Phyllidia pustulosa Cuvier, 1804; Phyllidia rotunda Eliot, 1904; Phyllidia spectabilis Collingwood, 1881; Phyllidia verrucosa van Hasselt, 1824; Phyllidiella nobilis (Bergh, 1869).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=536574 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Phyllidiella pustulosa. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 6 cm · Depth range: 6–38 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
SeaLifeBase notes: Assumed maximum length from Ref. 844. Known from depths of 6 to 38 m on reefs (Ref. 337), at intertidal and subtidal areas (Ref. 2925).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 87395) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Phyllidiella-pustulosa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
3,523 georeferenced occurrence records for Phyllidiella pustulosa are published through GBIF from 56 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 324 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 85 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 (824); United States of America (587); Australia (527); Philippines (249); Japan (189).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2291741) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2291741&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=536574 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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