Phyllidia varicosa is rare in the Marshalls, unless its variation includes specimens of Phyllidia sp. e359, which but for the longitudinal blue ridges is similar. The specimen below is a typical P. varicosa. The image is a still captured from video on the Kwajalein Atoll seaward reef on 19 May 2008. Phyllidia varicosa was first listed in the Marshall Islands from Bikini Atoll by Marcus (1965). It has also been figured from Rongelap by John and Lynette Flynn.
Along with several other species, this one appears to be a Mullerian mimic.
Created 25 December 2006
Updated 3 May 2021