Hypselodoris pulchella

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Hypselodoris pulchella
Hypselodoris pulchella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Hypselodoris
Species: H. pulchella
Binomial name
Hypselodoris pulchella
(Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Chromodoris pulchella (Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828)
  • Doris pulchella Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828 (Basionym)
  • Risbecia pulchella (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828)

Hypselodoris pulchella is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. [2]

Description

Hypselodoris pulchella is a long slender species with a body size varying between 80 mm and 110 mm. The mantle edges are well extended along the body, with a thin bluish border. The mantle and the foot are creamy white, covered with numerous small rounded yellowish-orange spots of different sizes. The sensory tentacles (the antennae like rhinophores) are bluish. The main respiratory organs (gills) vary from bluish to orange. These sea slugs usually raise and lower rhythmically their head, vibrating their gills. They often shows a characteristic 'trailing' behaviour, with two individuals following closely each other. This carnivore species feeds on sea sponges.

Distribution

Hypselodoris pulchella is distributed in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean along the Comores, Réunion, Kenya and Tanzania to Thailand and the Philippines.

Hebitat

This benthic species can be found at a depth of 3-30 meters.

Gallery

Hypselodoris pulchella in Sharm El Sheik. Dorsal view
Two individuals of Hypselodoris pulchella displaying the typical ‘trailing behaviour’

References

  1. ↑ http://www.seaslugforum.net/risbpulc.htm Sea Slug Forum
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bouchet, P. (2012). Hypselodoris pulchella. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=597870 on 2012-06-09
  • Rudman W.B. (1984) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 81 (2/3): 115-273. Vine, P. (1986). Red Sea Invertebrates. Immel Publishing, London. 224 pp page(s): 203
  • Vine, P. (1986). Red Sea Invertebrates. Immel Publishing, London. 224 pp
  • Rudman, W.B. (1987). The Chromodorididae (Ophistobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris epicura, C. aureopurpurea, C. annulata, C. coi and Risbecia tryoni colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 90 (3): 305-407
  • Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 138
  • Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdes, A. (2008) Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and seaslugs. A field guide to the world's most diverse fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books, Washington, 426 pp. page(s): 271
  • Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479

External links

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