Hypselodoris apolegma (or "Bubblegum Worm" as it is commonly known) is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Taxonomic history Recent phylogenetic data confirm the validity of the species and suggest a sister species relationship between Hypselodoris apolegma and Hypselodoris bullockii.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 A later study revealed a large clade of animals with similar colouration with Hypselodoris brycei as sister species to H. apolegma.Epstein, H. E.; Hallas, J. M.; Johnson, R. F.; Lopez, A.; Gosliner, T. M. (2018). Reading between the lines: revealing cryptic species diversity and colour patterns in Hypselodoris nudibranchs (Mollusca: Heterobranchia: Chromodorididae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2018, XX, 1–74. With 40 figures.
Distribution This nudibranch is found in the tropical Western Pacific Ocean.Rudman, W.B., 2002 (October 29) https://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/hypsapol Hypselodoris apolegma (Yonow, 2001).] [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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