Hypselodoris
zephyra Gosliner & Johnson,
1999
20mm
Hypselodoris
zephyra is known from the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, but the Marshall
Islands are a considerable extension of the range. Two of these measuring about
20mm each were found at a depth of about 7m in a Kwajalein lagoon algae patch
by Jay Lord in June 2016. A strong El Niño in 2015 and 2016 caused prolonged
westerly winds, and it is known that such periods are characterized by warm
water masses moving from west to east in the Pacific. We suspect that these
conditions probably bring in planktonic larvae from the west and may influence
species composition in places like the Marshalls.
Created 29 June 2016
Return to chromodorid thumbnails
UnderwaterKwaj home