Re: Hypselodoris zephyra feeding

November 23, 2007
From: Philip Cromwell

Concerning message #21115:

Hi Bill,

On the Factsheet for Hypselodoris zephyra you mention that the "gills are simple, not triangular in cross section." While on the H. nigrostriata Factsheet you mention that "the rhinophores are orange red and the gills, triangular in cross-section are edged with the same colour." It seems that if the gills are a defining characteristic, and they are different, then this specimen would be H. nigrostriata.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks,
Phil

aegir429@yahoo.com

Cromwell, P. A., 2007 (Nov 23) Re: Hypselodoris zephyra feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21119

Dear Phil,

Thanks for raising this problem again. I discussed this in answer to your earlier comments [message #9288] but my assumption that H. zephyra had simple gills was based on the original description of the species where they are described as 'simple'. However on checking most of the photos of these two 'species' on the Forum I see my earlier enthusiasm for separating them was probably misplaced as most of those I have sorted as H. zephyra have gills which are clearly triangular in cross-section. I suspect we probably have a single species which varies slightly in colour pattern across its vast geographic range. The other possibility is that there are two species, but unfortunately in photos of animals which seem to have simple gills, the gills always are out of focus so I can't be sure.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Nov 23). Comment on Re: Hypselodoris zephyra feeding by Philip Cromwell. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21119

Factsheet

Hypselodoris zephyra

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