Cape dorid
| Cape dorid | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Hypselodoris |
| Species: | H. capensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypselodoris capensis | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Cape dorid (Hypselodoris capensis) is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
Distribution
[edit]This species can found around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to the Wild Coast subtidally to at least 20 m. It is probably endemic.[2]
Description
[edit]The Cape dorid is a white-bodied dorid with a smooth skin. It has opaque white lines along the notum and irregular reddish-orange spots. It has a broken blue-purple margin. It has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. The rhinophores and gill edges are orange. It may reach a total length of 50 mm.[3] This species is very similar in appearance to Hypselodoris carnea.[4]
Ecology
[edit]Hypselodoris capensis feeds on an undescribed species of pale blue sponge.[5][6] Its egg mass is deposited as a creamy-coloured collar consisting of several coiled whorls.[7]
Specimen feeding on a pale blue sponge
References
[edit]
- ↑ Barnard, K. H. (1927) South African nudibranch mollusca, with descriptions of new species, and a note on some specimens from Tristan d'Acunha. Annals of the South African Museum 25(1): 171-215, pl. 19-20.
- ↑ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
- ↑ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
- ↑ Rudman, W.B., 2000 (July 19) Hypselodoris capensis (Barnard, 1927). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ↑ Gosliner, Terrence M. (1987). Nudibranchs of Southern Africa: A Guide to Opisthobranch Molluscs of Southern Africa. Monterey, California: Sea Challengers. p. 55. ISBN 0-930118-13-8.
- ↑ Rudman, W. B. (19 July 2000). "Hypselodoris capensis (Barnard, 1927)". Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ Zsilavecz, Guido (2007). Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. Cape Town: Southern Underwater Research Group. ISBN 0-620-38054-3.