Hypselodoris sp. 5 - Key Largo, Florida

February 17, 2004
From: Paul Osmond

Note added 25 March 2008: This species, which has been called Hypselodoris sp. 5 on the Forum, has now been named Hypselodoris olgae - see message #22347.

We found a specimen of Hypselodoris marci in Key Largo, Florida this weekend (Feb 14 2004), or at least the nudibranch that matches that name as shown in Humann's Reef Creatures.

Some things to note - it is a very different looking species than Hypselodoris acriba. It lacks H. acriba's ruffles - the edge is very smooth and is broken at the midsection with an extention of the back color. The anal gills were white, the rhinopores were half purple, half white. Coloration was almost exactly as shown in Humann's. Underneath the speciman was purple - sides were similarly colored as the back with spots extending the length of the body including the 'tail'

Unfortunately I had a wide angle lens on and the speciman was less than an inch long, so no images. That is too often the case.
Thanks,
Paul

marriard@deepseaimages.com

Osmond, P., 2004 (Feb 17) Hypselodoris sp. 5 - Key Largo, Florida. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12224

Thanks Paul,
This is the species I am calling Hypselodoris sp. 5 on the Forum. I have discuss in another message [#7803] why I think Hypselodoris marci is something else, perhaps even a form of H. acriba. Unfortunately the original description is rather confusing.

Your message also gives me a chance to mention Paul Humann & Ned DeLoach's excellent 2nd Edition to their Reef Creature Guide book. Naturalists in the Caribbean are lucky to have such a comprehensive publication.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 17). Comment on Hypselodoris sp. 5 - Key Largo, Florida by Paul Osmond. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12224

Factsheet

Hypselodoris olgae

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