Hexabranchus morsomus
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Hexabranchus morsomus is a marine species in the family Hexabranchidae (Mollusca › Gastropoda › Nudibranchia), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Hexabranchus morsomus Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962 under AphiaID 549228.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassGastropoda
- OrderNudibranchia
- FamilyHexabranchidae
- GenusHexabranchus
- SpeciesHexabranchus morsomus
Named by Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962
Close relatives
Other species of Hexabranchus with a Codexery entry.
- Spanish dancer Hexabranchus sanguineus
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Hexabranchus morsomus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 549228 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.1 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: SeaLifeBase species summary
Where the hexabranchus morsomus has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (84 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 1 inland record left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Hexabranchidae · Genus: Hexabranchus.
Accepted name: Hexabranchus morsomus · Authority: Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 549228.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Caribranchus morsomus (Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=549228 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Hexabranchus morsomus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 10 cm · Depth range: 0–35 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.
SeaLifeBase notes: Locally common. Endemic to the Caribbean (Ref. 415).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 8491) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Hexabranchus-morsomus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
84 georeferenced occurrence records for Hexabranchus morsomus are published through GBIF from 12 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 14 distinct locations from a sample of 84 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Guadeloupe (55); Panama (7); Costa Rica (6); Martinique (4); Saint Barthélemy (3); Mexico (2); Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2); Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (1); Honduras (1); Saint Kitts and Nevis (1); Cayman Islands (1); Virgin Islands (British) (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5190140) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5190140&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=549228 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Hexabranchus morsomus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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