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.
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]
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]