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Hypselodoris maculosa

2025 · Photo: Boaz Liebes

Hypselodoris maculosa (Pease, 1871)

Spotted hypselodoris

Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea

Size
⁦10–30⁩ mm · max 40 mm
Depth
⁦0–18⁩ m
Native range
Widespread in the Indo-West Pacific (type locality Tahiti), including Japan and Australia from Western Australia to northern New South Wales and Lord Howe Island.

Description

A small chromodorid nudibranch, uncommon across its wide Indo-Pacific range. It is easily confused with Hypselodoris decorata, and reliable separation of the two may require molecular data.

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Identification

Pale cream to pinkish body with several (about 4–6) thin opaque white longitudinal lines and purplish-red spots between them. The undulating mantle margin is orange-brown to red-purple with white spots. Rhinophores are white with red rings on the club; the white gills have purplish-red spots at the base and vermilion tips.

Similar species

Hypselodoris decorata is very similar; rhinophore ring counts overlap, so the two may not be separable from photos alone.

Habitat & diet

Habitat

Reef edges and reef flats, from the intertidal to about 18 m.

Food

Sponges, reportedly Euryspongia.

Sources (2)
Hypselodoris maculosa