The Spotted Hypselodoris (Hypselodoris maculosa) is a small and attractive nudibranch species that belongs to the large and colourful family Chromodorididae. This species is also referred to as Chromodoris decora and Glossodoris xishaensis. This species is known to occur throughout the tropical waters of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans and it has been recorded in East Africa, Red Sea, Indonesia, Japan, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Bail, Philippines and northern Australia.
This species has a very attractive pattern and its patterns and colours can vary considerably. The standard background colour of the mantle is pale milky orange-brown and there is a broad translucent pinkish-purple margin scattered with white and dark pink-purple spots around the anterior end of the mantle. The posterior end is similar in colour but the band is not as broad. The mantle is covered in small purple-red spots and their thin white lines running along the length of the mantle. One of the key identifying features of this species is the red bands on the rhinophores and red colouration on the gills. This species can be found living on coral reefs from depths of 3 to 40 metres. The Spotted Hypselodoris (Hypselodoris maculosa) grows to at least 3cm in length.
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