Information on Halgerda brycei

October 16, 2001
From: Shireen Fahey

Dear Bill,
Here is some information on Halgerda brycei, one of the new species of Halgerda that Terry Gosliner and I have just published.

PHOTO: (WAMS 12392). Specimen, 50 mm, from Brigadier Island, Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia. 10 m depth, April, 1987. Photo by C. Bryce. (Fahey & Gosliner, 2001: Fig 3D)

This lovely animal has so far been found only in the northern reaches of Western Australia, a rather remote location to say the least. This species was named after Clay Bryce of the Western Australian Museum. Clay was the first to find it in 1987 and has done more than can be possibly mentioned here for nudibranch research. You could mistake Halgerda brycei for Halgerda carlsoni due to the similar, large, orange-tipped tubercles covering the dorsum. But H. brycei has no other colored markings between the tubercles, whereas H. carlsoni has tiny orange dots. Halgerda batangas also has a similar appearance, but that species has a fine, orange network between the orange-tipped tubercles. Halgerda brycei has a large, feathery gill structure like many Halgerda and dark-tipped rhinophores. Look for the dark stripe on the posterior side of the rhinophores too. Halgerda carlsonilacks the dark stripe and H. batangas has dark spots on the anterior of the rhinophores. Another similar species, Halgerda stricklandi has a yellow rhinophore club with similar orange tubercles on the dorsum. The other differences between these species are internal, with the radula and reproductive systems having distinct differences.

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.

Best wishes,
Shireen

sfahey@mailbox.uq.edu.au

Fahey, S., 2001 (Oct 16) Information on Halgerda brycei. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5475

Thanks Shireen,
I think Jim Anderson's unidentified Halgerda from Sulawesi is probably this species. It has more black specks on the rhinophores stalk than in your photo but otherwise fits very well. What do you think?
Bill Rudman.

Factsheet

Halgerda brycei

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