Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   side   rhinophores   branchia   atypical rhinophore   young   feeding   mating _______________   GALLERY	Hypselodoris violabranchia Gosliner & Johnson, 1999   Maximum size:  20 mm (Gosliner, et. al., 2008). Identification:  This small, slender species has a pale-yellow body covered with many fine, white longitudinal lines. The anterior and posterior ends of the mantle and the posterior end of the foot have violet margins. The rhinophores are magenta with a white patch on the posterior face of the club. The gills are white with magenta on the outer side of the rachis. It may be distinguished from Hypselodoris peasei and Hypselodoris insulana by its magenta rather than orange gills. Natural history:  Hypselodoris violabranchia is a moderately common diurnal species that may be found under rocks or in the open on rocky bottoms. It lives in moderately protected to highly exposed locations at depths of 5-26 m (16-85 ft). One animal laid a pale-orange egg spiral of 3 whorls. It was 8 mm in diameter with a 1.5 mm high ribbon. It apparently feeds on a gray-blue sponge that is often obscured by algal turf. Distribution:  Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Midway. Taxonomic notes:  It was first recorded in Hawaii at Makua, Oahu by Scott Johnson in Nov. 1977. The name means "violet gills." It's referred to as the "violet-gilled nudibranch" in Hoover, 2006. Photo:  PF: 16 mm: Kanaio, Maui; Jan., 1994. Observations and comments: Note 1:  ( )
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