Hallaxa cryptica from Kerama Id, Japan

April 6, 2000
From: Atsushi Ono


Dear Bill,
Thank you for your comments about Goniodoris glabra.

This time I have attached a milky, translucent dorid. This animal is so hard to take a photo clearly, that my photos look like out of focus. I think this is Hallaxa species.... Is this Hallaxa cryptica?

It is about 15mm long, found at 3m depth, under side of small dead coral, at Kerama Is. near Okinawa in Japan.

Could you help me to identify this?

Sincerely,
Atsushi Ono

ononini@cosmos.ne.jp

Ono, A., 2000 (Apr 6) Hallaxa cryptica from Kerama Id, Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2215

Dear Atsushi,
I have never seen this animal alive but from Gosliner & Johnson's description i think you are right in thinking it is Hallaxa cryptica. It is certainly an interesting genus. It seems that each species mimics the sponge that it feeds on.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Apr 6). Comment on Hallaxa cryptica from Kerama Id, Japan by Atsushi Ono. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2215

Factsheet

Hallaxa cryptica