Risbecia apolegma
Yonow, 2001
Also known as: Hypselodoris apolegma

Photographed by: Erwin Kodiat
With this photo and the next one, the egg mass of
Risbecia apolegma is clearly documented as an upstanding yellow orange ribbon of 1.5 – 2 whorls.
This seems to be very common in your area. Te little one is putting out feelers in the hope of mating.
I think this is
Risbecia apolegma, but it is difficult to see if the white border is composed of spots – it appears to be. Another specimen in which the border between pink and white is sharp rather than typically reticulated.
The middle individual is very unusual in being coloured apricot orange.
Pale violet with a white margin and bright orange gills and rhinophores.
The change from purple to white around the margin has the typical transition.
The characteristic pattern for this species – an intermixing of purple and white spots – is clearly visible around the front of the mantle.
Previous comment from Dr. Nathalie Yonow:
Risbecia apolegma and it is laying eggs
This is
Risbecia apolegma Yonow 2001, I don’t know why it has been transferred to Hypselodoris; I know of no publication. I think it belongs to Risbecia because of the body & gill shape and of course the radula. None of the teeth had bifid ends as in species of Hypselodoris.
I know I described apolegma, but these things can be variable! This is the second time I have seen one with such a sharp border between the pink and white. And, the first time I have seen one with the border missing. I wonder if it was bitten by a fish, or genetic. However, I think the dotted and reticulated texture of the the white band is indicative of
Risbecia apolegma, with the orange gills and rhinophores. My largest was 80 mm alive (60 mm in preservative) – this one looks large enough. I wonder what the juveniles look like?
Locality:
- Indonesia
- Lembeh (26) Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Manado (13) Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Bunaken (12) Feb, Mar, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Bali (10) Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- North Sulawesi (9) Mar, Apr, Jun, Jul, Oct
- Raja Ampat (6) Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
- Derawan (6) May, Jun, Aug
- Bangka North Sulawesi (5) Apr, May, Sep, Nov
- Komodo (5) Jun, Oct, Dec
- Ambon (4) Apr, Sep, Oct
- Lombok (4) May, Nov
- Wakatobi (3) Apr, Jul
- Fakfak (2) Jan, Jun
- Sumbawa (1) Aug
- Taka Bonerate (1) Nov
- Donggala (1) May
- Siladen (1) Jun
- Gorontalo (1) Jan
- Rinca Island (1) Dec
- Philippines
- Anilao (25) Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Puerto Galera (23) Jan, Mar, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov
- Malapascua (4) Jan, Feb, Apr, Aug
- Romblon (2) Mar
- Coron (2) Oct, Nov
- Subic Bay (1) Apr
- Leyte (1) Mar
- Sogod Bay (1) Feb
- Palawan (1) Jan
- Cebu (1) Apr
- Siquijor (1) Sep
- Malaysia
- Mabul (8) Feb, Jun, Sep
- Sipadan (7) Mar, Apr, May
- Lankayan (5) Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep
- Tenggol (4) Mar, Apr, Aug, Nov
- Sabah (4) Mar, Nov
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (2) Mar, Jun
- Tioman (2) Jun, Jul
- Miri (2) May
- Redang (1) Jul
- Malaysia (1) Sep
- Kapalai (1) Jun
- Perhentian (1) Jun
- Mataking (1) Mar
- Taiwan
- PNG
- Japan
- Australia
Pictures of Risbecia apolegma
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Similar Species
Author: Nila Murti
There are still some debates as to whether these two Hypselodoris nudibranch with the same body form are separate species or just colour variations of the same species. The main difference is in colouration. Hypselodoris apolegma has a darker and deeper purple colour that grades towards the mantle margin into purple dots and finally into solid white along the edge of the mantle. The base of the gills and antennas (rhinophores) are also rich purple in colours, but changed to deep yellow at the ends.
Hypselodoris bullocki has several pale purple shade variations, from very pale, almost white, whitish purple to purple, but never as dark as the purple found in Hypselodoris apolegma. The colour is uniform over the whole mantle, with a narrow band of white or dark purple at the mantle edge. The gills and antennas are yellow with purplish base or pale purple all over.
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