Hypselodoris tricolor? from Turkey

September 28, 2001
From: Baki Yokes

Hi,
I had classified these animals as Hypselodoris messinensis, since they look very similar to the ones in the Atlas of Mediterranean Nudibranchs. Most of the specimens of this species from the North Aegean Sea are very colourful. They usually grow up to 3-4cm in size. They are found on rocky substrate and usually on this pink sponge (Dysidea avara?), at a depth deeper than 10m. A similar blue species [see other message] shares the same habitat, but it is smaller in size, has a more uniform color, and feeds on the sponge Cacospongia sp.

These photos were all taken at Saros Bay divesite, Canakkale, Turkey.
UPPER RIGHT: Depth: 20m; 35mm long, June 1999. Photo: Hasan Yokes: hyokes@turk.net.
LOWER LEFT: Depth: 12m; 25mm long, June 1999. Photo: Baki Yokes.
LOWER RIGHT: Depth: 20m; 30mm long, June 1999. Photo: Hasan Yokes

Best wishes,
Baki

bakiyokes@turk.net

Yokes, B., 2001 (Sep 28) Hypselodoris tricolor? from Turkey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5338

PHOTO: Animals on sponge Dysidea avara?, Saros Bay divesite, Canakkale, Turkey. Depth: 20m; 30mm long, June 1999. Photo: Hasan Yokes

Dear Baki,
Thanks to you and Hasan for these photos. I think these are what has been called Hypselodoris tricolor but as you will see from Lucas's message, there is no simple solution. I haven't time to regularly change all the names on the Forum, as the argument sways one way or the other, so I am going to keep calling it H. tricolor on the Forum until the International Commission is asked to adjudicate on the matter. It appears to me that is the only way the matter can be resolved.

One problem I have is that in the most recent revision of these animals by Ortea, Valdés, & García-Gómez, (1996), there is another species Hypselodoris fontandraui which looks very similar in shape and radular morphology, and also feeds on Dysidea alvara. In some photos (Fig 9C for example) I can't see any differences between it and photos of H. tricolor. Angel Valdés is preparing a guide to these animals for the Forum. Hopefully his new job will not delay this greatly anticipated contribution much longer.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Sep 28). Comment on Hypselodoris tricolor? from Turkey by Baki Yokes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5338

Factsheet

Hypselodoris tricolor

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