Halgerda theobroma
Fahey & Gosliner, 2001
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Dorididae
PHOTO
Specimen, 20 mm, from Rottnest Island, Western Australia. 21 m depth, December, 1998. Photo by C. Bryce. (Fahey & Gosliner, 2001: Fig. 3B)
This species is unusual for a Halgerda in not having a high body profile. The usual tubercle or ridge pattern found in most Halgerda is reduced to a central translucent white ridge with a yellow crest, and a number of slightly raised transverse ridges and rounded tubercles of similar colour. There is a yellow submarginal band, and a white marginal band at the mantle edge. The foot has a yellow margin. Halgerda theobroma shares some reproductive similarities with other Halgerda species. It is also very similar in colour to Halgerda gunnessi. This species has been found from 6 meters down to 30 meters, and so far, only in Western Australia. Its name is a reference to its cocoa colour.
Reference:
• Fahey, S.J. & Gosliner, T.M. (2001) On the genus Halgerda (Nudibranchia: Halgerdidae) from Western Australia with descriptions of four new species. Bollettino Malacologico, 37(5-8): 55-76.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (October 10) Halgerda theobroma Fahey & Gosliner, 2001. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/halgtheo
