Among the largest phyllidiids seen here, and one of the palest.
A phyllidiid to about 10 cm, among the largest of the family normally seen on these sites. The body is pale pink to white with black lines running lengthwise along the back and large rounded tubercles between them, and the rhinophores are pink. Phyllidiopsis krempfi is the same colour scheme at half the size, with lower and more evenly spread tubercles; below about 5 cm the two are not safely separated, and a small pale phyllidiid is better recorded as Phyllidiopsis sp. than forced onto a name.
Hard-bodied like the rest of the family, with no dorsal gill — respiration is through folds beneath the mantle margin. It feeds on sponges and secretes their compounds through the skin, which is why it moves about in the open with no attempt at cover. Pairs on one sponge are common, and fine white egg ribbons are laid beside them. Recorded from about 5 to 30 m.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.
