Hypselodoris zebra
(Heilprin, 1889)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Chromodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Bermuda, tropical west Atlantic.

PHOTO

Bermuda, July 1991.
PHOTOS: Daniel Geiger. See message and photo of egg ribbon below.

RELATED TOPIC

Opisthobranch Defence - colour patterns

This chromodorid is not well-known and seldom illustrated, probably because its lives outside the "centres" of chromodorid diversity - the Indo-West Pacific, Caribbean, and Pacific east coast. Growing to over 18cm long it is one of the largest chromodorids. Hypselodoris zebra deserves an important place in "chromodorid history' because it was the species which attracted Crozier's attention and let to his early discussions and studies on the apparent immunity chromodorids have from fish predation.

References:
• Crozier,W.J. (1916). On the immunity coloration of some nudibranchs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2: 672-675.
• Crozier,W.J. & Arey, L.B. (1919). Sensory reactions of Chromodoris zebra. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 29: 261-310.
• Grode, S. H. & Cardellina, J.H., 1984. Sesquiterpenes from the sponge Dysidea etheria and the nudibranch Hypselodoris zebra. Journal of Natural Products, 47(1):76-83.
• Rudman, W.B. (1991). Purpose in pattern: the evolution of colour in chromodorid nudibranchs. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 57, (T.E. Thompson Memorial Issue):5-21.

See photos of larvae and egg ribbon below.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (March 12) Hypselodoris zebra (Heilprin, 1889). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/hypszebr

Related messages

  1. Hypselodoris zebra - old reference and new photo
    From: Thaddeus Murdoch, February 18, 2010
  2. Photos of Hypselodoris zebra & eggs
    From: Daniel Geiger, March 12, 1999
  3. Re: Hypselodoris zebra larvae
    From: Bill Rudman, February 26, 1999
  4. Re: Hypselodoris zebra larvae from Bermuda
    From: J.E. Austin, February 20, 1999
  5. Hypselodoris zebra larvae from Bermuda
    From: J.E. Austin, February 18, 1999
  6. re: Sea Slug Forum
    From: J.E.Austin, November 11, 1998
  7. Re: J.E.Austin's Hypselodoris zebra query
    From: Bill Rudman, November 9, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages