Hypselodoris obscura
Stimpson, 1855
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Chromodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Southeastern Australia from Southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
PHOTO
UPPER: Callala Point, Jervis Bay, southern New South Wales, November 1984.
LOWER: Solitary Is, Coffs Harbour Region, northern New South Wales, March 1988
PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.
Probably part of a complex of related species including Hypselodoris saintvincentius found in South Australia, and Hypselodoris infucata which has a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution.
The colour form in the upper photo, with a translucent greyish background colour is found throughout the species' range. The blue colour form (lower photo) is common only in the northern part of its range (southern Queensland and northern New South Wales), and only on rare occasions is seen as far south as Sydney. The photo of both colour forms mating (see Akos Lumnitzer's 28 Nov 1998 message) indicates that they are colour forms of the same species.
Reference:
• Rudman, W.B. (1984) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 81: 115-273.
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 28) Hypselodoris obscura Stimpson, 1855. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/hypsobsc
Related messages
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Hypselodoris obscura from sthn Queensland
From: Gary Cobb, June 2, 2009 -
Hypselodoris obscura from Jervis Bay
From: James McMahon, February 27, 2008 -
Hypselodoris obscura feeding
From: L. & D. Atkinson, February 20, 2006 -
Hypelodoris obscura from Port Stephens
From: Leanne & David Atkinson, December 12, 2003 -
Hypselodoris obscura from Wallis Lake
From: Peter Barnes, December 1, 2003 -
Hypselodoris obscura from Jervis Bay
From: Sue Newson, November 27, 2003 -
Meaning of Hypselodoris
From: Malo Hosken , June 10, 2003 -
Hypselodoris obscura from Jervis Bay, NSW
From: Des Paroz, April 16, 2001 -
Hypselodoris obscura from Jervis Bay
From: Des Paroz, April 2, 2001 -
Hypselodoris obscura from Jervis Bay, NSW
From: Ken Kates, December 22, 2000 -
Hyselodoris obscura laying eggs
From: Stuart Hutchison, August 18, 2000 -
Unknown species from Port Hacking, NSW
From: Erik Schloegl, September 2, 1999 -
H. infucata in Wells & Bryce
From: Wayne Ellis, March 16, 1999 -
Hypselodoris obscura & H. infucata
From: Rebecca Johnson, March 12, 1999 -
Colour forms of Hyps. obscura mating
From: Akos Lumnitzer, November 28, 1998