Hypselodoris fucata explained

Hypselodoris fucata is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[1]

Distribution

This nudibranch is known from South Africa, along the KwaZulu-Natal coast.[1]

Description

Hypselodoris fucata has a white body and a purple-blue mantle edge and foot. There is also often a yellow line on the very edge of the mantle. The body and dorsum have red-brown striations running longitudinally. The gills are white, lined with orange and the rhinophores are a bright orange colour.[2] [3] This species can reach a total length of at least 50 mm. It is similar in colour pattern to Hypselodoris kaname and Hypselodoris paulinae.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (December 2) Hypselodoris fucata Gosliner & Johnson, 1999. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  2. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp.
  3. Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á. (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): 260