Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Main page Next photo	Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1901     regeneration error?   detail The nature of the flower-like projection on the head of this animal is somewhat uncertain (see the Sea Slug Forum for another example). However, its form resembles that of the oral glands that extend through the mouth to digest sponge tissue when phylidiids feed. Since exposure of the existing glands due to injury probably wouldn't result in such a high degree of symmetry, perhaps the animal grew a second set around a dorsal opening due to a "regeneration error" following injury (similar to the growth of an extra rhinophore in some other nudibranchs)? Photos:  Marty Snyderman: Kona, Big Island; May, 2011.
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