32. Hypselodoris maridadilus

N33 Hypselodoris maridadilus Hypselodoris maridadilus is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. It feeds on sponges. Distribution This nudibranch is found in the Western Indian Ocean, from South Africa to the Red Sea. Description Hypselodoris maridadilus has a yellow body with purple longitudinal lines, and a purple bordered mantle. The gills and rhinophores are bright orange. It is very similar in appearance to Hypselodoris whitei which differs slightly in having white-tipped rhinophores and gills. This species can reach a total length of at least 30 mm. References: Gosliner, T.M. & Johnson, R.F. (1999) Phylogeny of Hypselodoris (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) with a review of the monophyletic clade of Indo-Pacific species, including descriptions of twelve new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 125: 1-114 Magnetic Caution! Do not touch the water Do not eat Beware of insect bite