Hypselodoris apolegma (or "Bubbblegum Worm" as it is commonly known) is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Hypselodoris apolegma
Hypselodoris apolegma at Bima bay, Indonesia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Hypselodoris
Species:
H. apolegma
Binomial name
Hypselodoris apolegma
(Yonow, 2001)[1]
Synonyms
  • Risbecia apolegma Yonow, 2001

Taxonomic history

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Recent phylogenetic data confirm the validity of the species and suggest a sister species relationship between Hypselodoris apolegma and Hypselodoris bullockii.[2] A later study revealed a large clade of animals with similar colouration with Hypselodoris brycei as sister species to H. apolegma.[3]

Distribution

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This nudibranch is found in the tropical Western Pacific Ocean.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Yonow, N. 2001. Part 11. Doridacea of the families Chromodorididae and Hexabranchidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia), including additional Moluccan material. [In] Results of the Rumphius Biohistorical Expedition to Ambon (1990). Zoologische Medelingen. Leiden, 75: (1-15) : 3-50
  2. ^ Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Rudman, W.B., 2002 (October 29) http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/hypsapol Hypselodoris apolegma (Yonow, 2001).] [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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