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Polycera hedgpethi

Polycera hedgpethi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Polyceroidea
Family: Polyceridae
Genus: Polycera
Species:
P. hedgpethi
Binomial name
Polycera hedgpethi
Er. Marcus, 1964[1]

Polycera hedgpethi, common name Hedgpeth's dorid, is a species of nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae.[2] It is a widely distributed species of unknown origin, but considered invasive in many parts of its range.[3]

Distribution

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Polycera hedgpethi is widely distributed in temperate and subtropical waters worldwide, but it remains a cryptogenic species with an uncertain native range.[3][4].

Polycera hedgpethi was first described from California, USA,[5] and it occurs commonly in the northeast Pacific, including in Mexico and Panama.[3][6] It is also widely distributed in Australia[3][7][8], with an expanding range along the east coast.[9] Polycera hedgpethi also occurs in Costa Rica, New Zealand, Morocco, Angola, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, and northern Spain,[3] as well as in the Mediterranean Sea.[10][11] It is considered invasive in Oceania, Africa, and the Mediterranean[3][9][7]

In both hemispheres P. hedgpethi occupies a latitudinal range of approximately 7-45˚, likely restricted primarily by sea temperatures. It is often associated with ports and other anthropogenic structures, and is believed to have been transported around the world via vessel biofouling. The distribution of P. hedgpethi is still expanding, with its dispersal seemingly driven by human transport and facilitated by climate change.[3][9][7].

Ecology

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Polycera hedgpethi feeds primarily on the bryozoans Bugula neritina, which is also a widely distributed invasive.[3] Despite its expanding range and invasive status, P. hedgpethi is generally considered to be a benign invader, having no negative ecological impacts on recipient ecosystems.[3][9]

References

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  1. ^ Marcus, Er., 1964. A new species of Polycera (Nudibranchia) from California. The Nautilus, 77(4): 128-131
  2. ^ Rosenberg, G.; Gofas, S. (2011). Polycera hedgpethi Er. Marcus, 1964. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2017-11-19
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Keppel, E.; Sigovini, M.; Tagliapietra, D. (2012). "A new geographical record of Polycera hedgpethi Er. Marcus, 1964 (Nudibranchia: Polyceridae) and evidence of its established presence in the Mediterranean Sea, with a review of its geographical distribution". Marine Biology Research. doi:10.1080/17451000.2012.706306.
  4. ^ Wells, F.E. & Bryce, C.W. 1993. Sea Slugs of Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 184 pp.
  5. ^ Rosenberg, G.; Gofas, S. (2011). Polycera hedgpethi Er. Marcus, 1964. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2017-11-19
  6. ^ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 22) Polycera hedgpethi Marcus, 1964. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  7. ^ a b c Wilson, N. (2006). "New record of the nudibranch Polycera hedgpethi Er. Marcus, 1964, in South Australia, with a discussion on its occurrence in Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum. doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.69.2006.137-140.
  8. ^ Wells, F.E. & Bryce, C.W. 1993. Sea Slugs of Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 184 pp.
  9. ^ a b c d Forbes, H.; Johnson, O.J.; Jones, T.R.; Layton, C.; Pecl, G.T.; Williams, J. (2025). "Unsolicited nudis: ongoing spread of two non-native nudibranchs along Australia's east coast". Biological Invasions. doi:10.1007/s10530-025-03622-4.
  10. ^ Caballer, M. & Ortea, J. (2002) Primera cita de Polycera hedgpethi Marcus, 1964 (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) para la Península Ibérica. Noticiario SEM, 37: 55-56.
  11. ^ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 22) Polycera hedgpethi Marcus, 1964. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.