Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa
Appearance
Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa | |
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A paler than average colour form of Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa | |
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Species: | H. purpureomaculosa
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Binomial name | |
Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa Hamatani, 1995[1]
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Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Distribution
This nudibranch is found in Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Hypselodoris_purpureomaculosa2.jpg/220px-Hypselodoris_purpureomaculosa2.jpg)
Description
Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa is white, with a distinct orange fringed mantle, orange gills and rhinophores. The specific epithet purpureomaculosa refers to the purple spots on its upper mantle that vary in colour from red to black in some individuals. This species reaches a length of at least 40 mm.
Ecology
Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa feeds on sponges and appears to eat mainly the purple coloured sponges of the genus Euryspongia.[2]
References
- ^ a b [1] Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa Hamatani, 1995. Sea Slug Forum. Accessed 12 February 2009.
- ^ http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=hypspurp