Anilao — 28 January 2026
- Location seen
- Anilao, Philippines
- Date seen
- 2026-01-28
- Depth
- 40
Hypselodoris paradisa
Paradise Hypselodoris
© Di Syrett / MacroDivers.com
About this species
- Current scientific name
- Hypselodoris paradisa
- Common name
- Paradise Hypselodoris
- Order
- Nudibranchia - Doridoidea (Dorids)
- Type
- cryptobranchia
- Genus
- Hypselodoris
- Species
- paradisa
- Average size
- 10 mm
- Colours
- white, orange, purple, pink, red
- Pattern
- spots, stripe
- Body shape
- Oval
- Rhinophores
- Horizontal
- Gills
- External gill plume
- Similar species
- Hypselodoris decorata, Hypselodoris maculosa.
Geographic Distribution
Papua New Guinea - but may also be found in Bali and the Philippines.
Identification
Tiny nudibranch. The notum is pink with white lines and purple spots. Oral veil is purple with white dots. The rhinophores are white with two red/orange bands. Gills white and red/orange and retractable.
General Notes
Often confused with Hypselodoris decorata or Hypselodoris maculosa. This species is listed as probable as it is so similar to these other species and has only been collected and sequenced from PNG. Until DNA samples have been taken from the Philippines and Indonesian population we can't be sure it is the paradisa. The identifying factor is the red/orange mark behind the rhinophores. This individual has this and therefore it is most likely to be Hypselodoris paradisa.