Systematic revision of the family Phyllidiidae in the Indian Ocean province: Part 1 (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia: Doridoidea)

Ten species belonging to three genera of the family Phyllidiidae are redescribed and one new species is described. External dorsal and ventral characters and internal digestive morphology have been examined, and are shown to be constant for each species; despite slight variations, internal morphology correlates with external characteristics, demonstrating that species can be separated by careful observation of external features. In addition, a combination of external characters can also be used to assign species to their respective genera, including tubercle arrangement, body colour and pattern, rhinophore shape and colour, and oral tentacle and head morphology.