Pleurehdera haraldi from central Pacific

April 8, 2003
From: Scott Johnson

Hi Bill,
Here are three photos of Pleurehdera haraldi. The hn08 numbers are specimens photographed in Hawaii, and the e numbers from Enewetak, Marshall Islands. All these specimens were in the 25-40mm range. In Hawaii, I found them under rocks on shallow subtidal reefs (about 1 meter depth) and in basaltic ledges and small caves at night at depths of 5-15 meters. At Enewetak, they were usually under dead coral rocks at depths of 2-12 meters.
Scott

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Johnson, S., 2003 (Apr 8) Pleurehdera haraldi from central Pacific. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9614

Thanks Scott,
Its good to see some photos of living animals of this species. There is certainly no major external feature to easily distinguish it from Berthellina or even Berthella. Your photo e191_1 with its head on the edge of the soft coral colony is tantalising, as we know nothing of its diet. Perhaps as you have shown forBerthellina citrina, cnidarians form part of its diet.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Apr 8). Comment on Pleurehdera haraldi from central Pacific by Scott Johnson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9614

Factsheet

Pleuredhera haraldi