The Cape dorid (Hypselodoris capensis) is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
| Cape dorid | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Hypselodoris |
| Species: | H. capensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Hypselodoris capensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Distribution edit
This species can found around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to the Wild Coast subtidally to at least 20 m. It is probably endemic.[2]
Description edit
The Cape dorid is a white-bodied dorid with a smooth skin. It has opaque white lines along the notum and irregular reddish-orange spots. It has a broken blue-purple margin. It has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. The rhinophores and gill edges are orange. It may reach a total length of 50 mm.[3] This species is very similar in appearance to Hypselodoris carnea.[4]
Ecology edit
This species feeds on an undescribed pale blue sponge. Its egg ribbon is a creamy collar of several whorls.
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Specimen feeding on sponge
References edit
- ^ Barnard, K. H. (1927) South African nudibranch mollusca, with descriptions of new species, and a note on some specimens from Tristan d'Acunha. Annals of the South African Museum 25(1): 171-215, pl. 19-20.
- ^ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
- ^ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
- ^ Rudman, W.B., 2000 (July 19) Hypselodoris capensis (Barnard, 1927). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.