Halgerda toliara? from South Africa
June 30, 2000
From: Valda Fraser
Dear Bill
In other examples of Halgerda toliara I have photographed they all have a distinctive yellow line from between the rhinophores down to the gills. This fellow doesn't! Could this just be a variation?
Locality: Scottburgh - 25m - south coast KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICA
Date: June 2000
Size: 25mm
Thanks.
Valda Fraser
iti04937@mweb.co.za
Fraser, V., 2000 (Jun 30) Halgerda toliara? from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2568Dear Valda,
Looking at Fahey & Gosliner's description of the original specimens from Madagascar, this animal fits exactly, including the small creamy pustules around the mantle edge and fine white line at the border [see inset]. There is an irregular yellow line down the middle of the back.
Externally Halgerda toliara is quite similar to Halgerda formosa which can sometimes have a distinctive yellow median ridge down the mantle, while at other times it is not so obvious. It usually has a few black spots on the mantle skirt. One other diference between the two is that in Halgerda formosa the black viscera can be seen through the dorsal body wall while in Halgerda toliara the visceral mass appears to be an opaque white mass.
I am pretty sure this photo falls within the normal variation of Halgerda toliara.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
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