Hypselodoris capensis
(Barnard, 1927)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from temperate and subtropical South Africa from Cape Point to Transkei (Gosliner & Johnson, 1999)

PHOTO

Intertidal pool, Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape, nr Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 30mm long alive, 1971. Photo: Robin Stobbs.

RELATED TOPIC

Hypselodoris carnea

Very similar in colour to Hypselodoris carnea. Gosliner & Johnson (1999) differentiate the two by noting that in H. carnea the background colour is opaque white while in H. capensis it is more pale pink. Gosliner (1987) suggests that H. capensis also differs in having a broken purple margin around the anterior end. There are of course anatomical differences.

References:
• Gosliner, T.M., (1987) Nudibranchs of Southern Africa
• Gosliner, T.M. & Johnson, R.F. (1999) Phylogeny of Hypselodoris (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) with a review of the monophyletic clade of Indo-Pacific species, including descriptions of twelve new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 125: 1-114.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2000 (July 19) Hypselodoris capensis (Barnard, 1927). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/hypscape

Related messages


Hypselodoris capensis from Port Elizabeth

October 11, 2003
From: Charles Rowe

Dear Bill,
Here is a photo of Hypselodoris capensis taken at Whitesands, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 16 August 2003 at 14 metres
Best wishes
Charles

bumff@mweb.co.za

Rowe, C., 2003 (Oct 11) Hypselodoris capensis from Port Elizabeth. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11170

Thanks Charles,
Bill Rudman

Hypselodoris capensis from South Africa

August 22, 2003
From: Rudolph van Jaarsveld

Hi Bill,
Here are two photos of Hypselodoris capensis. Photos taken off Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 18 July 2003, depth 14 meters.
Regards.
Rudolph

rudolph.vanjaarsveld@tcm.co.za

van Jaarsveld, R., 2003 (Aug 22) Hypselodoris capensis from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10721

Dear Rudolph,
As I have discussed elsewhere, this species and Hypselodoris carnea are difficult to distinguish externally. However Port Elisabeth seems to be safely south of the geographic limit of H. carnea. The pale bluish sponge looks as though it could be likely food of this species
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Aug 22). Comment on Hypselodoris capensis from South Africa by Rudolph van Jaarsveld. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10721

Is this Hypselodoris capensis?

March 12, 2003
From: Valda Fraser

Dear Bill,
This nudibranch definately has "a discontinuous purple margin at the anterior end of the head." Could I safely say it is Hypselodoris capensis rather than Hypselodoris carnea?

Locality: Cape St Francis, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Depth: 25m
Date: Jan 2003
Size: 25mm

Thanks.
Regards,
Valda Fraser

valdafraser@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2003 (Mar 12) Is this Hypselodoris capensis?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9079

Dear Valda,
These two species seem very dificult to distinguish externally. From the earlier discussion on the Forum, and Terry's message, I think you are probably right. Terry suggests that H. capensis doesn't usually extend as far north as Hypselodoris carnea, so also on geographic grounds, it is a good bet this is H. capensis.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Mar 12). Comment on Is this Hypselodoris capensis? by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9079