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Hypselodoris bertschi
Gosliner & Johnson, 1999
 
Hypselodoris bertschi
Maximum size:  35 mm.

Identification:  This dorid is translucent-white with elongate blue-black spots arranged in longitudinal rows. Thin, white longitudinal streaks run between the lines of blue-black spots. The mantle often has a broken, yellow-orange marginal band in larger individuals. The rhinophores are white with a single gold or orange medial band. Gill coloration appears to be variable, either white with an orange rachis or white with orange tips and an orange base.

Natural history:  Hypselodoris bertschi is a common species found in rocky habitats. It occurs in protected to highly exposed locations from the low intertidal to 15 m (49 ft) and is often the most commonly seen chromodorid on shallow reef flats. Although diurnally active, it may rest in the open at night. It probably feeds on a black sponge. A 15 mm animal laid a cream, spiral egg mass composed of about three whorls. It was 10 mm in diameter and the eggs hatched in about seven days in the laboratory.

Distribution:  Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai: probably also found in Japan and French Polynesia.

Taxonomic notes:  This species was listed as Hypselodoris lineata (Eydoux and Souleyet, 1852) in Bertsch & Johnson, 1981, Kay, 1979, and Kay & Young, 1969. It's also listed as Hypselodoris sp. 1 in Hoover, 1998. It was named for Dr. Hans Bertsch who has described many new opisthobranch species and has, among numerous other contributions, significantly added to the knowledge of Hawaiian chromodorids. It's referred to as the "dot-and-dash nudibranch" in Hoover, 1998 & 2006. It's listed in Ostergaard, 1955 as Glossodoris prismatica lineata and in Ostergaard, 1950 as Glossodoris sp. It's also listed as Glossodoris sp. in Edmondson, 1946. It was probably first recorded in Hawaii from Waikiki, Oahu by Jens Ostergaard in March, 1923.

Photo:  CP: 25 mm: Hekili Point, Maui; April 30, 2006.

Observations and comments:

Note 1:  ( )
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