Hypselodoris cf. juniperae Gosliner & Johnson, 2018

Mehrotra, Rahul, A. Caballer Gutierrez, Manuel, M. Scott, Chad, Arnold, Spencer, Monchanin, Coline, Viyakarn, Voranop & Chavanich, Suchana, 2021, An updated inventory of sea slugs from Koh Tao, Thailand, with notes on their ecology and a dramatic biodiversity increase for Thai waters, ZooKeys 1042, pp. 73-188 : 73

* Hypselodoris cf. juniperae Gosliner & Johnson, 2018 Figure 11A

Material examined.

One specimen 6 mm, CB.

Ecology.

Observed under a dead fungiid coral skeleton in shallow coral reef. Depth 6 m.

Distribution.

Hypselodoris juniperae is currently known from Madagascar ( Epstein et al. 2018) and potentially South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Réunion Island ( Bidgrain 2005; Ogden 2005; Houben 2007). A similar species represents a first record for Thai waters.

Remarks.

Externally similar to both Hypselodoris maculosa (Pease, 1871) and Hypselodoris juniperae Gosliner & Johnson, 2018 in bearing thin longitudinal white lines, dark purple spots, an opaque orange marginal band and white gills with red apices. Identified as the former species in Mehrotra and Scott (2016). Observed living sympatrically with H. decorata , readily distinguished by bearing two red rhinophoral rings and purple rather than reddish brown body colouration. Given the close relationship between all three species, a much closer study is required. Only a single individual has been observed in the area to date.

Figures

Figure 11. A Hypselodoris cf. juniperae 6 mm B Hypselodoris cf. kanga 40 mm C Hypselodoris katherinae 15 mm D Hypselodoris cf. lacuna 10 mm E, F Hypselodoris cf. maritima 20 mm (E) and 25 mm (F) G Hypselodoris tryoni, right specimen 35 mm (photograph by Kirsty Magson) H Mexichromis mariei 15 mm (photograph by Pau Urgell Plaza) I Mexichromis multituberculata 30 mm (photograph by Pau Urgell Plaza) J Mexichromis trilineata 8 mm K Verconia cf. hongkongiensis 6 mm L Asteronotus cespitosus 120 mm (photograph by Emily Palmer).