Hypselodoris marci
Marcus, 1970
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae
PHOTO
Upper & Lower Right: ex Ev Marcus - no data on slide. Possibly Holotype. Lower left: Labelled 'Hyps marci? Aug 1977. Ilha Dos Porcos' by Ev Marcus. [I assume 'Ilha Dos Porcos' refers to a place just south of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. Photographers: unknown. Photos identified by Ev Marcus.
This species was described from one specimen collected in northern Brazil, and one from off Venezuela in the Caribbean. The Venezuelan specimen was accompanied by a color slide of the living animal. Here is a verbatim copy of the original description of the external colour:
'The colors of the preserved slug agree perfectly with those of the slide; blue and black and white are well preserved. The slide shows a red line along the notal brim and the gills are red to the sides of the dark blue rachis. Dorsally and ventrally to the red brim there are big blackish blue spots corresponding to the subnotal glands, whose apertures are seen in the red streak. Dividing the areas of the glands from one another and from the nootum is a white band. Towards the middle of the back, the white pigment is interrupted by two dark blotches. In the middle of the back the white pigmentleaves small areas free around the blue notal glands. These stipples are often eye spots with a light blue centre. Along the sides of the notum there are larger light blue flecks. The hyponotum has the same elements, and a number of transverse white streaks go to the border of the foot, yellowish in the slide. The sole is whitish. ... The rhinophores have blue tips ... '
Marcus considers this species to be nearest to Hypselodoris acriba but says it differs in having a blue line on the gill rhachis rather than a red one in H. acriba. See message below.
References:
• Marcus, Ev. (1970) Opisthobranchs from northern Brazil. Bulletin of Marine Science, 20: 922-951.
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (September 17) Hypselodoris marci Marcus, 1970. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/hypsmarc
Related messages
Hypselodoris marci from Brazil
March 5, 2005
From: Armando de Luca Junior
This is the first record of Hyspelodoris acriba for Laje de Santos Marine State Park.
Locality: Laje de Santos Marine State Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Atlantic Ocean. Depth: 14 metres. Length: 35 mm. 28 December 2004. Rocky bottom. Photographer: Armando de Luca Jr
Armando de Luca Jr
mergulho@nautilusdive.com.br
de Luca, Armando, 2005 (Mar 5) Hypselodoris marci from Brazil. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13280
Dear Armando,
This is an interesting find. It certainly has similarities to Hypselodoris acriba, and to Hypselodoris sp. 4, but I think it is what Eveline Marcus described as Hypselodoris marci, That species was described from specimens from nthn Brazil and Venezuela, but Eveline Marcus sent me a photo of an animal from 'Ilha Dos Porcos' which I think refers to a place just south of Rio de Janeiro. Perhaps you could confirm that for me? I have also included here a sketch of the preserved animal [Fig 40] from Marcus (1970).
One immediate difference is the colour of the rhinophores - white with blue tip in H. marci, and completely blue in H. acriba. It is possible that Hypselodoris marci is a colour form of H. acriba, but we know so little about these animals, that it is impossible to be sure. More photos of them and their eggs and food sponges would be a great help, as would more anatomical information. In a recent paper, Ortea, Valdés, & García-Gómez, (1996) identify a different species as H. marci, but that is the species which is known on the Forum as Hypselodoris sp. 5 .
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Marcus, Ev. (1970) Opisthobranchs from northern Brazil. Bulletin of Marine Science, 20: 922-951.
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Ortea, J., Valdés, A. & and García-Gómez, J.C. (1996) Revisión de las especies atlánticas de la familia Chromodorididae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) de grupo cromático azul. [Review of the Atlantic species of the family Chromodorididae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) of the blue chromatic group.] Avicennia, 1996, Suppl. 1: 1-165.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris marci - Marcus photos
September 23, 2002
From: Bill Rudman
While answering Craig's message about Hypselodoris sp. 5 from Florida I came across these photos sent to me by Eveline Marcus in 1984. She had labelled them both as Hypselodoris marci.
PHOTOS: Upper & Lower Right: ex Ev Marcus - no data on slide. Possibly Holotype.
Lower left: Labelled 'Hyps marci? Aug 1977. Ilha Dos Porcos' by Ev Marcus. [I assume 'Ilha Dos Porcos' refers to a place just south of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. Photographers: unknown.
I suspect the Lower Right photo may be the holotype specimen as the drawing in the original description of the mantle edge is almost identical. This is no way to be sure. Considering the confusion surrounding this name, and the little information we have about it, I feel it is useful to post these photos as they indicate Eveline Marcus's concept of the species. It seems very similar to Hypselodoris acriba.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
