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This species has been observed on Reunion Island

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Chromodorididae Distribution : South africa, Kenya and now Reunion Maximal size : 50 mm Abundance : (Run) Seldom if ever... Species characteristics : The body color is pinkish-white There are three white line down the middle of the mantle from the rhinophores to the gills alternating with four reddish to orange lines. Additional red to orange and white lines are present near the mantle margins There is a broad broken pinkish-purple submarginal band with a yellow marginal band
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Monika Bachel Reunion, Le Port, 18 m, 20 March 2010, size : 20 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Bill Rudman

Bibliographic data :

A broad pinkish purple submarginal band is present inside the mantle edge. It is interrupted in several places along the margin. A yellow marginal band is present along the edge of the mantle.
    The rhinophores are orange red, they have approximately 20 lamellae.
    Immediately behind the rhinophores are two patches of lighter, more translucent pigment, through which the eyes are visible
    The nine unipinnate gills are white with orange-red lines on the outer and inner edges of the gills rachis. The base of the gill sheath is somewhat elevated from the notum
    A purple band (sometimes interrupted) is present along the margin of the foot. Additional red and white lines are present along the side of the body and foot.
    The name fucata comes from the latin, meaning painted, which refers to the bright colours of this species
    It is most closely related to H. kaname and H. paulinae. All these three species have a similar colour pattern with purple, red and yellow markings on a white body, but :

	Hypselodoris fucata	Hypselodoris kaname	Hypselodoris paulinae
Distribution	Western Indian Ocean of : South africa, Kenya and Reunion	Western pacifique. Japan to New Zealand	Hawaii
Marginal band	There is an outer yellow marginal band and a purple submarginal band		The purple band is absent
Notum	Three thin white opaque longitudinal lines mid-dorsally	Red mid-dorsal lines and large red spots

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Hypselodoris fucata
   Nudipixel Hypselodoris fucata

Publications :

Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
    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.

Other photos of Hypselodoris fucata :

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