Hexabranchus morsomus
Marcus, 1962

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

PHOTO

UPPER: St. Kitts, a dive site called Paradise Reef, taken at night in July 2002. Depth approximately 40 feet, specimen about 2.5 inches long.
LOWER: Saba, [Netherlands Antilles] a dive site called Torrens Point, taken at night in July 2002. Depth approximately 40 feet, approximately 2 inches long. Photos: Linda Ianniello

Animals range in colour from orange to red with mottled patches of ornage or yellow. Some specimens can have varying amounts of white dusting, especially on the mantle skirt. The rhinophore clubs can be entirely red or translucent yellow with a red tip. The gills are usually red, tipped with white, but can in smaller specimens be translucent yellow with red tips. In general shape it is very similar to H. sanguineus from the Indo-West Pacific.

Reference:
• Marcus, Ev. & Marcus, Er. (1962) Opisthobranchs from Florida and the Virgin Islands. Bulletin of Marine Science of the Gulf and Caribbean, 12(3): 450-488.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (September 8) Hexabranchus morsomus Marcus, 1962. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/hexamors

Related messages


Hexabranchus morsomus from Saba and St. Kitts

September 11, 2002
From: Linda Ianniello


Dear Bill,
Here are two examples of Hexabranchus morsomus the "Caribbean Spanish Dancer", showing the light and dark coloration.

UPPER: The dark one is from St. Kitts, a dive site called Paradise Reef, taken at night in July 2002. Depth was approximately 40 feet and the specimen was about 2.5 inches long.
LOWER:
The lighter one is from Saba, [Netherlands Antilles] a dive site called Torrens Point, taken at night in July 2002. Depth was approximately 40 feet and the specimen was about 2 inches long.

Regards,
Linda Ianniello

lindai@us.ibm.com

Ianniello, L., 2002 (Sep 11) Hexabranchus morsomus from Saba and St. Kitts. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7817

Thanks Linda,
It's nice to get some photos of this species.
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Sep 11). Comment on Hexabranchus morsomus from Saba and St. Kitts by Linda Ianniello. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7817