Leopard Nudibranch

Description:

A dorid nudibranch, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. Hypselodoris tryoni has a brown body and white foot. The body and upper dorsum are covered in purple spots ringed with white or light-brown. The gills are typically translucent white or light-brown and the rhinophores are brown to dark-brown and covered in circular white lines. It has a thin blue or purple line on the mantle edge. There is some colour variation between individuals. Sea slugs such as Hypselodoris tyroni, are known to exihibit trailing behaviour where up to four animals will follow one another very closely, often touching. It is not known what causes this behaviour.

Habitat:

This species occurs in the tropical Western Pacific Ocean from Australia to the Philippines. Like many slugs in the family Chromodorididae, Risbecia tyroni feeds on sponges and have been seen feeding on sponges from the genus Dysidea.