Hypselodoris melanesica is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2]
| Hypselodoris melanesica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Hypselodoris |
| Species: | H. melanesica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hypselodoris melanesica | |
Distribution
editThis nudibranch was described from Southern Sek Island, Madang Lagoon, Madang, Papua New Guinea, 5°05′55″S 145°49′16″E / 5.0985°S 145.8210°E. It is known only from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.[3]
Description
editHypselodoris melanesica has a translucent pale purple body with a thin white band at the edge of the mantle. The gills are light orange, becoming darker orange at the base. The gill pocket is deep violet. The rhinophores have bright orange clubs and a deep purple sheath at the base.[1] This species can reach a total length of at least 30 mm.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ MolluscaBase (2018). Hypselodoris melanesica Gosliner & Johnson, 2018. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2018-10-02.
- ^ Gaensslen, R.E., 2007 (Aug 18) Hypselodoris bullocki ? from Papua New Guinea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ^ 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. ISBN 1878348671, ISBN 978-1878348678, p. 195