Unknown species from Port Hacking, NSW

September 2, 1999
From: Erik Schloegl

Hi!

I've been meaning to ask this list for advice
on species ID for a long time, and now finally managed to get some of my photos scanned...
The attached photo was taken at Ship Rock Aquatic Reserve at Port Hacking (just south of Sydney, Australia) last September. Ship Rock is situated in an estuary and the depth at the time was 13m, over sandy bottom. I've done quite a few dives there, but I've only seen this nudibranch once - there and not anywhere else. Couldn't find it in any of the usual books - can someone help? I estimate the animal's length at 3cm.

Cheers,
Erik

schloegl@maths.uts.edu.au

Schloegl, E., 1999 (Sep 2) Unknown species from Port Hacking, NSW. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1282

Dear Erik,
A nudibranch from New South Wales! I was just thinking as I posted another group of interesting animals from Holland, New York and the Caribbean, that it was a while since we've had one from down under.

Your animal is a fairly pale example of Hypselodoris obscura, which was first described from Sydney Harbour, 150 years ago. Like many nudibranchs, it is sometimes quite common and other times impossible to find.

As you will see at the top of the page, it is one of a group of very similarly coloured species.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Sep 2). Comment on Unknown species from Port Hacking, NSW by Erik Schloegl. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1282

Factsheet

Hypselodoris obscura

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