Hypselodoris saintvincentius explained

Hypselodoris saintvincentius is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Distribution

This nudibranch is known only from Southern and Southwestern Australia.

This species was described from the intertidal zone at Coobowie, west coast of St Vincent Gulf, South Australia -35.0443°N 137.7399°W. It is related to the widespread tropical species Hypselodoris infucata and the similar Australian species Hypselodoris obscura. It has been reported from depths to 12 m and from Western Australia.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 28) Hypselodoris saintvincentius (Burn, 1962). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

    Description

    Hypselodoris saintvincentius has a dark blue-black body which is covered in hundreds of small black and white spots. There is typically a creamy-white irregular, lined pattern present on its dorsum. The gills and rhinophores are orange, sometimes outlined in white.

    This species can reach a total length of at least 40 mm and has been observed feeding on sponges from the genus Dysidea.

    References

    • Johnson, R. F. and Valdés, A. (2001) The Hypselodoris infucata, H. obscura and H. saintvincentius species complex (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Chromodorididae), with remarks on the genus Brachyclanis Ehrenberg, 1831. Journal of Natural History 35: 1371-1398.

    External links