Hypselodoris rudmani
# Hypselodoris rudmani

Hypselodoris rudmani is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. This species is named after the well known malacologist William B. Rudman.

## Distribution

The holotype of this nudibranch was collected at 11 m (36 ft) depth from Philip’s Reef (33°58.326′S 25°40.748′E﻿ / ﻿33.972100°S 25.679133°E﻿ / -33.972100; 25.679133), Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay, Cape Province, South Africa. Two additional specimens in the original description were from warmer water sites further north at Park Rynie (30°20′02″S 30°44′08″E﻿ / ﻿30.333811°S 30.735542°E﻿ / -30.333811; 30.735542), Natal and Umgazana (31°42′07″S 29°24′57″E﻿ / ﻿31.702024°S 29.415939°E﻿ / -31.702024; 29.415939), Eastern Cape, South Africa. A specimen from Pointe Evatra, South Madagascar (24°58.1′S 47°6.1′E﻿ / ﻿24.9683°S 47.1017°E﻿ / -24.9683; 47.1017) was sequenced for three genes in a landmark study which resulted in the description of 17 new species of Hypselodoris.

## Description

Hypselodoris rudmani has a translucent body dotted with white patches, and covered in small blue spots. The gills and rhinophores are white, tipped with orange. Hypselodoris rudmani is a member of a large clade that includes Hypselodoris katherinae, Hypselodoris paradisa, Hypselodoris maritima, Hypselodoris skyleri and Hypselodoris bertschi.

This species can reach a total length of at least 25 mm.

