Hypselodoris rudmani explained

Hypselodoris rudmani is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[1] This species is named after the well known malacologist William B. Rudman.

Distribution

The holotype of this nudibranch was collected at depth from Philip’s Reef (-33.9721°N 65.748°W), Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay, Cape Province, South Africa. Two additional specimens in the original description were from warmer water sites further north at Park Rynie (-30.3338°N 30.7355°W), Natal and Umgazana (-31.702°N 29.4159°W), Eastern Cape, South Africa. A specimen from Pointe Evatra, South Madagascar (-24.9683°N 53.1°W) was sequenced for three genes in a landmark study which resulted in the description of 17 new species of Hypselodoris.[2]

Description

Hypselodoris rudmani has a translucent body dotted with white patches, and covered in small blue spots. The gills and rhinophores are white, tipped with orange.[3] [4] Hypselodoris rudmani is a member of a large clade that includes Hypselodoris katherinae, Hypselodoris paradisa, Hypselodoris maritima, Hypselodoris skyleri and Hypselodoris bertschi.[2]

This species can reach a total length of at least 25 mm.[3]

Notes and References

  1. MolluscaBase (2018). Hypselodoris rudmani Gosliner & R.F. Johnson, 1999. Accessed on 2019-01-21
  2. 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.
  3. Rudman, W.B., 2005 (June 27) Hypselodoris rudmani Gosliner & Johnson, 1999. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á., 2018. Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification - Indo-Pacific. New World Publications; 2nd Revised, Updated edition. 452 pp.,, p. 187