Hypselodoris obscura

Hypselodoris obscura
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Nudibranchia
Family:	Chromodorididae
Genus:	Hypselodoris
Species:	H. obscura
Binomial name
Hypselodoris obscura (Stimpson, 1855)[1]
Synonyms
Chromodoris crossei (Angas, 1864) Goniodoris crossei Angas, 1864[2] Goniodoris obscura Stimpson, 1855 (original combination)

Hypselodoris obscura is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[3] It is the type species of the genus Hypselodoris.[1]

This species eats sponges.

Distribution

This nudibranch was described from Port Jackson, Australia. It is a warm temperate species only found in Southeastern Australia. It is related to the widespread tropical species Hypselodoris infucata and the similar Australian species Hypselodoris saintvincentius.[4]

Description

Hypselodoris obscura has a mottled appearance due to a grey or grey-blue background colour with yellow and black spots, which vary considerably in size between individuals. There is a paler stripe down the midline. The edge of the mantle is pale blue alternating with yellow. The gills and rhinophores are bright red.[4]

References

1. Stimpson, W. (1855). Descriptions of some new Marine Invertebrata Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences. 7: 385-394.
2. Angas, G. F. (1864). Description d´éspèces nouvelles appartenant à plusieurs genres de mollusques nudibranches des environs de Port-Jackson (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud), accompagnée de dessins faits d´après nature. Journal de Conchyliologie, series. 3(12): 43-70, pp. 54-55, Plate 5, Figure 1
3. MolluscaBase (2018). Hypselodoris obscura (Stimpson, 1855). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2018-10-26
4. Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 28) Hypselodoris obscura Stimpson, 1855. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.