Hypselodoris maritima
(Baba, 1949)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Chromodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Although often reported from the northwestern tropical Pacific waters of China and Japan, and the east coast of Australia, there are few records from the tropical western Pacific. I have found it in New Caledonia.
PHOTO
Solitary Is - Coffs Harbour region, northern New South Wales, April 1987.
UPPER: typical colour form. LOWER: melanistic (black) colour form.
PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.
Grows to about 20mm long. It is rather similar in colour to Hypselodoris nigrolineata from East Africa. H. maritima differs in having a blue submarginal border (red-purple in H. nigrolineata) and in having a yellow band inside the blue border, absent in the other species. The gills in H maritima are white with orange edgings, while in H. nigrolineata they are uniform orange. See also Hypselodoris sp. 7.
References:
• Rudman, W.B. (1982) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris quadricolor, C. lineolata and Hypselodoris nigrolineata colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 76: 183-241.
• Rudman, W.B. & Darvell, B.W. (1990) Opisthobranch Molluscs of Hong Kong: Part 1. Nudibranch Families; Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Triophidae, Gymnodorididae, Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia). Asian Marine Biology, 7: 31-79.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 19) Hypselodoris maritima (Baba, 1949). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/hypsmari
Related messages
Hypselodoris maritima from Sulawesi
December 21, 2006
From: Mike Krampf
Concerning message #18378:
I thought I'd share this picture of what I believe to be a Hypselodoris maritima since I didn't see a posting showing one from Sulawesi.
Locality: Dive Site - Batu Tuang, 30 ft, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Celebes Sea, 24 October 2006, Fringing reef. Length: 10 mm. Photographer: Mike Krampf.
Mike
mtkrampf@yahoo.com
Krampf, M., 2006 (Dec 21) Hypselodoris maritima from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18625Dear Mike,
I'm glad to get records of this species from the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Not so long ago this species was known only from Japan and eastern Australia, and we began to wonder whether the Australian records were the result of shipping. Gradually the large gap in between is being filled with sightings, showing that this species seems to have a natural distribution in the western Pacific from Japan to eastern Australia
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris maritima from sthn Queensland
January 26, 2006
From: Bruce Wilkie
Hi Bill,
I have been unable to ID this Chromodoris. Have been through all the refrence material that I have and havn`t even come close to finding a match.
Locality: Flat Rock, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. Depth: 12 metres. Length: 5 cm. 17 december 2005' rocky reef with sponges, hard & soft corals. Photographer: Bruce Wilkie
Many Thanks,
Bruce Wilkie.
brucedwilkie@yahoo.com.au
Wilkie, B., 2006 (Jan 26) Hypselodoris maritima from sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15638Dear Bruce,
It's been a while since I've seen one of these beautiful chromodorids. It isHypselodoris maritima . Outside Japan there are few records of this species except from New South Wales, so it's good to get further records from the large gap in between
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Hypselodoris maritima & Hypselodoris sp. 7
May 31, 2005
From: Erwin Koehler
Dear Bill,
I think this 2 shots may solve a problem. The upper photo looks like Hypselodoris sp. 7 . The lower one is a typical Hypselodoris maritima. I think thses show that Hypselodoris sp. 7 is a no-lined colour form of H. maritima.
Spotted animal: Gato Cave, Malapascua Is. Philippines. Depth: 9 m. Length: 22 mm. 04 May 2005. Lined animal: Gato Wall, Malapascua Is. Philippines. Depth: 20 m. Length: 22 mm. 05 March 2005. Photos: Erwin Koehler
Regards,
Erwin
www.Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com
Erwin@Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com
Koehler, E., 2005 (May 31) Re: Hypselodoris maritima & Hypselodoris sp. 7. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13910Dear Erwin,
Thanks for these photos. It looks like Nerida Wilson's suggestion [message #8718] about Hypselodoris sp. 7 was right. Certainly your spotted animal , if we ignore the spots, fits H. maritima in external features. Also the mantle glands - individual sacs scattered around the mantle edge except anteriorly - are identical to those in many of the photos of lines H. maritima on the Forum. In Mabel Fang's photo [message #8648] I had thought the yellow border, right against the blue, at the mantle edge, and the numerous black spots on the blue, were rather different from H. maritima, but your animal showing a few black spots on the blue, and other photos on the Forum showing the yellow border sometimes against the blue in H. maritima, suggest these differences are variations rather than distinct differences.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris maritima? from the Philippines
April 16, 2003
From: Erwin Köhler
Dear Bill,
Here is a picture of what I think is Hypselodoris maritima from the Philippine Islands.
Size: 14mm
Depth: 18m
Date: 24 Feb. 2003
Malapascua Island, divesite "Gato Corner"
Cheers,
Erwin
Erwin@medslugs.de
Köhler, E., 2003 (Apr 16) Hypselodoris maritima? from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9594Thanks Erwin,
Although the colour is a bit pale, it is definitely H. maritima. It is nice to get a record from the Philippines, for although it is quite often found in eastern Australia and the NW Pacific, we have very few records from the space in between.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris maritima & Hypselodoris sp. 7
January 1, 2003
From: Nerida Wilson
Note added 31 May 2005: This is a colour form of H. maritima. See message #13910.
Dear Bill,
Mabel Fang's recent posting of a Hypselodoris sp. seems to have some similarities to H. maritima. Perhaps the solid lines in typical H. maritima have broken down to form spots?
Cheers
Nerida
nwilson@marine.uq.edu.au
Wilson, N., 2003 (Jan 1) Hypselodoris maritima & Hypselodoris sp. 7. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8718Thanks Nerida,
They certainly have similarities - an interesting thought
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris sp. from Thailand
December 20, 2002
From: Mabel Fang
Note added 31 May 2005: This is a colour form of H. maritima. See message #13910.
Hi Bill,
I found this gorgeous nudibranch in Koh Tao, Thailand, on a wall at around 30 feet [4 Dec 2002]. It's about 2cm and because it was moving around quite quickly, that was how it caught my eye. Couldn't find any match in my nudi books so hope you can identify it for me, Thanks.
Regards,
Mabel
barramundi@mac.com
Fang, M, 2002 (Dec 20) Hypselodoris sp. from Thailand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8648Dear Mabel,
I think this is an unnamed species. There are not that many black spotted species and I don't know of one with a blue mantle border and a submarginal yellow band. It has similarities to Hypselodoris placida, but in that species the black spots are regularly shaped and the blue border is submarginal.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris maritima from Echizen
September 3, 2002
From: Nishina Masayoshi
Dear Bill,
The Echizen coast in winter is very cold and rough. It's a very severe winter for nudibranchs. The period when they can become active is for the three months from July to September. The population explodes during this summer period. I saw more then 100 individuals in 5 dives there.
Date: 3 Aug 2002
Location: Echizen coast, Fukui pref. Japan
Lengh: 10mm
Depth: 6m
Water temp: 27C degree
Photo: M.Nishina
Best Regards,
Nishina Masayoshi
nishina@wips.co.jp
Masayoshi, N., 2002 (Sep 3) Hypselodoris maritima from Echizen. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7757Thanks Nishina,
Bill Rudman
Hypselodoris maritima from Hong Kong
January 25, 2002
From: Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell
Here is some information and photos on Hypselodoris maritima from Brian Darvell's Hong Kong collections.
This is another chromodorid with longitudinal black lines. It differs from C. lineolata and C. striatella in having a broad purple or blue band near the border of the mantle and a second bright yellow band inside, but not touching, the purple. The pale orange rhinophores and lined gills are also characteristic. Grows to at least 20 mm.
PHOTO:
AM C140163, 2 specimens, 3 July 1983, Site 8.84, Tai Long Wan, centre reef, 7 m. Depth range: 1-18 m, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Collection Records:
AM C135248, 11 July 1982, Site 8.31, Kong Tau Pai (N of Wang Chau), 14 m. AM C140163, 2 specimens, 3 July 1983, Site 8.84, Tai Long Wan, centre reef, 7 m. Depth range: 1-18 m.
Reference:
• Rudman, W.B. & Darvell, B.W. (1990) Opisthobranch molluscs of Hong Kong. Part 1. Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Triophidae, Gymnodorididae, Chromodorididae, (Nudibranchia). Asian Marine Biology, 7: 31-79
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell
Hypselodoris maritima? from Western Australia
May 2, 2000
From: Jean-Paul Koninx
Dear Bill,
First of all: what a wonderful site! It is an absolute joy to wander around!
We've discovered scuba three years ago, heard a lecture on nudibranchs 1.5 yrs ago on Heron Island, got a camera half a year ago - and now we are thoroughly hooked on those lovely animals. We're seeing 'new' species on almost every dive, and it was great to end the confusion - thanks to your site - whether it was Chromodoris willani or Chromodoris lochi we saw so much on a trip last year: it actually was Chromodoris dianae!
I'd like to send some photographs from a recent dive trip to the Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, West Australia.
The first is taken at 12m, 'Gulliver's' divelocation, March 30. The slug is small, about 1cm length. Do you have an identification?
Thanks!
Jean-Paul Koninx
koninx@ozemail.com.au
Koninx, J-P, 2000 (May 2) Hypselodoris maritima? from Western Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2284Dear Jean-Paul,
I am glad you like the site and find it useful.
I am pretty sure this is a colour form of Hypselodoris maritima. One important feature is that the gills seem to be white with orange edges. Western Australia seems to have an interesting fauna which includes a number of what seem to be unique colour forms of Western Pacific species. In the Western Pacific, Hypselodoris maritima does not usually have such obliquely arranged black lines, and the mantle does not have such a brownish yellow appearance.
We can surmise that a population has established itself in Western Australia since the relatively recent opening of the Timor Sea across the top of Australia. Only further collecting and observations will allow us to determine whether these Western Australian 'colour forms' should be considered separate species.
There is a similarly coloured species from the Western Indian Ocean, Hypselodoris nigrolineata but that differs considerably in colour including having the gills all orange, not lined as in H. maritima.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
