Hypselodoris bertschi ? from Hachijo Island, Japan

April 26, 2002
From: Shouichi Kato


Dear Bill,
Are these two photos, color variations of Hypselodoris bertschi?. They look very similar to the species shown in the letter from Mr.Jun Imamoto dated on Feb. 9, '02. This species can be seen commonly at a shore reef shallower than 15m.
Your advice would be appreciated.

Place: Hachijo Island, Japan
Upper: Depth: 15m., Size: about 15mm
Lower: Depth: 15m., Size: about 20mm

Regards,
S. Kato

regulus@tokyo7.ne.jp

Kato, S., 2002 (Apr 26) Hypselodoris bertschi ? from Hachijo Island, Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6459

Dear Shouichi,
Your animals certainly have similarities with Jun Imamoto's photo but in that animal there are distinct white lines on the mantle, the orange band on the rhinophore is midway down the club, and there are pinkish spots around the mantle edge. I have included a copy of Stuart Hutchison's photo of Chromodoris thompsoni, a species only found in southeastern Australia. Although I don't think they are related, your animal certainly has a very similar pattern. In particular all the small dark spots in your animal are found on a larger translucent bluish grey spot, just as in C. thompsoni. I will call it Chromodoris sp 14.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Apr 26). Comment on Hypselodoris bertschi ? from Hachijo Island, Japan by Shouichi Kato. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6459

Factsheet

Chromodoris sp. 14