Giant Hypselodoris

Hypselodoris apolegma is a species of colorful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Recent phylogenetic data confirm the validity of the species and suggest a sister species relationship between Hypselodoris apolegma and Hypselodoris bullockii.

Description

The background colour is a rich pinkish purple with a white border to the mantle. At the edge of the mantle the border is solid white but inside this is a region of varying width in which the white forms a reticulate pattern gradually merging in to the pinkish purple. The rhinophore stalks and the base of the gills is an intense purple, the rhinophore clubs and the gills are orange yellow.

Distribution

This nudibranch is found in the tropical Western Pacific Ocean.

Biology

It lays its eggs in a yellow ribbon-like mass. It feeds on sponges. It seems to prefer a dysideid sponge of the genus Euryspongia, but it may feed on other sponges as well.