Haminoea alfredensis from South Africa

July 28, 2002
From: Lindsay Warren

Dear Bill,
I thought you might like to have these photos of what I believe to be Haminoea alfredensis Bartsch, 1915 for the Forum as it doesn't seem to be included at the moment. I found it in 5 cm of water in the upper rock pools of Marsh Strand near Haga-Haga, Eastern Cape, South Africa, mid afternoon on 15 February 2002. One can see its yellow/orange spots quite clearly. Interestingly it had quite a 'forest' of algae growing on its shell and this with its own coloration makes it blend in very effectively with its surroundings. L: 16 mm. Photos: Lindsay Warren.
All the best
Lindsay Warren

alldcl@compuserve.com

Warren, L., 2002 (Jul 28) Haminoea alfredensis from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7629

Thanks Lindsay,
Growing Enteromorpha and other opportunistic green algae on their shells is something that quite often happens to species of Haminoea. Haminoea often lives in sheltered bays, and other places where these algae settle and grow. As well as feeding on the algae, Haminoea provides a nice clean shell on which the algae can settle and grow.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jul 28). Comment on Haminoea alfredensis from South Africa by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7629

Factsheet

Haminoea alfredensis