Hypselodoris maculosa
Encyclopedia
Hypselodoris maculosa is a species
of sea slug
or dorid nudibranch
, a marine
gastropod mollusk in the family
Chromodorididae
.
. Its anterior end is often light-purple in colour and the gills and rhinophores are white, lined with red bands. There is a large range of colour variation between individuals of this species.
This species can reach a total length of at least 20 mm and has been observed feeding on yellow sponges from the genus Euryspongia.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
or dorid nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
, a marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusk in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Chromodorididae
Chromodorididae
Chromodorididae are a taxonomic family of medium-sized to large, colorful, sea slugs; dorid nudibranchs in the superfamily Doridoidea. These are marine gastropod mollusks....
.
Description
Hypselodoris maculosa has a white and red body with white spots and lines on its dorsumDorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
. Its anterior end is often light-purple in colour and the gills and rhinophores are white, lined with red bands. There is a large range of colour variation between individuals of this species.
This species can reach a total length of at least 20 mm and has been observed feeding on yellow sponges from the genus Euryspongia.