Hypselodoris sp. 5 from the West Indies

June 25, 2007
From: Jim Chambers

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.

G'Day, Bill.
While diving on Little Cayman, BWI (Caribbean Sea) on May 27, 2006, I saw a little nudibranch that I think is a Purple-Spotted Sea Goddess (Hypselodoris marci) although it also resembles Hypselodoris cf. acriba, on hardpan at a depth of about 10 meters. It was about 15 mm in size. Since I don't see this species reported in Little Cayman, I thought I would submit it to you and also to try to get a positive ID.

Cheers,
Jim Chambers
Georgia USA

jimbo1946@mindspring.com

Chambers, J., 2007 (Jun 25) Hypselodoris sp. 5 from the West Indies. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20038

Dear Jim,

This is what I am calling on the Forum Hypselodoris sp. 5 because I am pretty sure it is an unnamed species. As I discuss on the Fact Sheet and in an earlier message [#7803] it has been identified - I think incorrectly - as H. marci and H. bayeri, but part of the problem is the poor original descriptions of many Caribbean species. I see in Caribbean Sea Slugs that the authors agree that this is probably an unnamed species.  I am not sure what you mean by 'Hypselodoris cf. acriba'. There is one labelled that in Caribbean Sea Slugs which is the same as one on the Forum [message #9824] as possibly Hypselodoris sp. 5, but we have much to learn about these animals and it could be another unnamed species. Understanding and comparing their anatomy is going to be vital, but it will be meaningless if we don't have an equally good understanding of their external shape, colour and variability. Which is why your photos are so welcome

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jun 25). Comment on Hypselodoris sp. 5 from the West Indies by Jim Chambers. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20038

Factsheet

Hypselodoris olgae

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