Bullocks Hypselodoris

Reasoning recorded at review

• •The body is translucent white to very pale lilac rather than strongly pink or deep purple
• •A thin pale band follows the mantle and foot margin
• •Both rhinophore sheaths have narrow, sharply defined deep-purple basal rings
• •The gill pocket has a narrow sharply defined deep-purple basal ring
• •The rhinophore clubs and gill branches are orange, with darker orange distally
• •The visible external combination matches the Papua New Guinea H. melanesica diagnosis

Alternatives considered

• Hypselodoris bullockii

  Why plausible: This close sister species shares the general pink-purple body and orange appendages and was the iNaturalist computer-vision label.

  Comparison: H. bullockii usually lacks these narrow sharply bounded basal rings; anatomy or DNA would be needed for confirmation.

• Hypselodoris brycei

  Why plausible: A pale body, violet marginal pigment and orange appendages can look similar in a single photograph.

  Comparison: The expected broad deep-violet mantle margin is not visible here, and current evidence places H. brycei in Western Australia; specimen evidence would resolve any residual doubt.