Hypselodoris variobranchia is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2]
| Hypselodoris variobranchia | |
|---|---|
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| Lembeh, Indonesia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Hypselodoris |
| Species: | H. variobranchia
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| Binomial name | |
| Hypselodoris variobranchia | |
Distribution edit
The holotype of this nudibranch was collected at 30 m depth from Aphol's Rock, Maricaban Island, Tingloy, Batangas Province, Luzon Island, Philippines, 13°39′31″N 120°54′05″E / 13.6586°N 120.9013°E. It is a common and widespread species which has been reported from Queensland, Australia; Malaysia;[3] Indonesia and Okinawa, Japan but frequently mistaken for Hypselodoris bullocki or Hypselodoris apolegma.[1]
Description edit
Hypselodoris variobranchia has a deep purple body with a broad solid white border to the mantle. The bulb of the rhinophores is orange, with purple sheaths. The gills may be orange or deep purple. There is a tall gill pocket which is also deep purple in colour. This species has frequently been reported as Hypselodoris bullocki.[1][4] This is a large nudibranch, reaching 50 mm in length.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Epstein, H. E.; Hallas, J. M.; Johnson, R. F.; Lopez, A.; Gosliner, T. M. (2018). Reading between the lines: revealing cryptic species diversity and colour patterns in Hypselodoris nudibranchs (Mollusca: Heterobranchia: Chromodorididae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2018, XX, 1–74. With 40 figures.
- ^ MolluscaBase (2018). Hypselodoris variobranchia Gosliner & Johnson, 2018. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2018-10-22.
- ^ Lau. A, 2006 (Dec 11) Re: Hypselodoris bullocki? from Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ^ Rudman W. B., 1999.Hypselodoris bullocki (Collingwood, 1881) - Page 1, Fig E. In: Sea slug forum. Sydney: Australian Museum.