|Phyllidia varicosa, head end on the left in this image|
This family is within the clade Doridacea (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
Most species occur in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, but a few species have been found in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean.
The mantle of these oval nudibranchs is flattened dorsoventrally and its dorsal surface is covered with hard, colored tubercles. This mantle is decorated with contrasting colors and patterns as warning signals to predators. The lamellate rhinophores can be retracted. Like other dorid nudibranchs, all species have a dorsal anus, except for the species in the genus Fryeria where the anus is posteroventral and protrusible. In contrast with the other nudibranchs from the clade Doridacea, the species in this family lack buccal armature, i. e. radulae and jaws. The gill leaflets are situated along the ventral area and to the side (= ventrolateral ) instead of consisting of a dorsomedian (= along the middle line of the upper surface) circlet . The oral glands, which are closely associated with the pharynx and contained in the oral tube, and the stomach have undergone modifications. The female part in the reproductive system of these hermaphroditic snails has two separate openings and the male part one. This is called a triaulic reproductive system. It corresponds to the same triaulic condition of the advanced dorids.
Most phyllidiids occur in their natural context during day time in conspicuous way and show themselves exposed to the predators. However their colors are warning signals indicating special capabilities to deter predators, such as bioactive chemical defense. This phenomenon is called aposematism. During observations, only one species was found always hidden: Phyllidiopsis cardinalis Bergh.
There are not many reports on the ecology and the feeding habits of these nudibranchs. As their small mouth lacks a radula and other buccal hard parts, they are known as predators adapted for sucking on sponges. Phyllidia varicosa has been observed feeding on a sponge of the genus Hymeniacidon. Phyllidia flava has been reported feeding on the sponge Acanthella acuta.
The original spelling was denoted as family Phyllidia. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck coined the words "les Phyllidiens" and "les phyllidéens" (1801; 1809). These were later Latinized by J.G. Children (1823)  to Phyllidiana, who put them in Hydrobranchiae. The present name Phyllidiidae is now attributed to Rafinesque and not to Lamarck.
There has been much confusion in the taxonomy of this family, caused by inadequate descriptions. David J. Brunckhorst in his book "The Systematics and Phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea)" has brought a thorough review of this family.
The family Phyllidiidae consists of five genera with a total of more than 80 species.
- Phyllidia Cuvier, 1797 (type genus)
- Ceratophyllidia Eliot, 1903
- Phyllidiella Bergh, 1869
- Phyllidiopsis Bergh, 1875
- Reticulidia Brunckhorst, 1990
- Genera brought into synonymy
- Fryeria Gray, 1853 : synonym of Phyllidia Cuvier, 1797
- Reyfria Yonow, 1986: synonym of Phyllidia Cuvier, 1797
Phylogenetic analysis through cladistics shows that the family Phyllidiidae is monophyletic. The phylogenetic tree shows that Ceratophyllidia is sister to the rest of the family and Phyllidiopsis sister to the remaining genera, Phyllidiella sister to the remaining genera, and Reticulidia sister to Phyllidia and Fryeria.
- Bergh, L.S.R., 1875. Neue Beitrage zur Kentniss der Phyllidiaden. Verhandlungen der zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft 25: 659-674.
- Brunckhorst, D.J. (1991). "Do phyllidiid nubranchs demonstrate behaviour consistent with their apparent warning coloration?—some field observations". Journal of Molluscan Studies 57 (4): 481–489. doi:10.1093/mollus/57.4.481. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- J.G. Children (1822–1824). "Lamarck's genera of shells". Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature and the Arts. 14,15,16.
- Crouch, Edmund A. (1827). An illustrated introduction to Lamarck's conchology : contained in his "Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres" : being a literal translation of the descriptions of the recent and fossil genera. London: Longman. p. 25.
- Brunckhorst D. J. (1993). The Systematics and Phylogeny of Phyllidiid Nudibranchs (Doridoidea). Australia: Records of the Australian Museum, supplement 16. pp. 1–107. ISBN 0-7310-0065-X.
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