Halgerda aurantiomaculata
(Allan, 1932)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Dorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known from tropical eastern Australia, eastern Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.
PHOTO
Pelorus Is., North Queensland, Feb 1985.
PHOTO: Bill Rudman.
One of a group of white species of Halgerda with orange markings. This species is characterised by the orange-tipped tubercles and the large orange patches on the dorsum between the tubercles. There is also a thin orange mantle border. Other similar coloured species include Halgerda carlsoni, Halgerda sp. 1 and Halgerda malesso.
Reference:
• Willan, R.C. & Brodie, G.D. (1989). The nudibranch Halgerda aurantiomaculata (Allan, 1932) (Doridoidea: Dorididae) in Fijian waters. The Veliger, 32(1): 69-80.
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (July 22) Halgerda aurantiomaculata (Allan, 1932). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/halgaura
Related messages
Halgerda aurantiomaculata from Heron Island
November 25, 2008
From: Julie Marshall
Concerning message #22034:
Dear Bill,
I was surprised when reading Gary Cobb's message on this species that you have so few pictures of Halgerda aurantiomaculata on the Forum. Attached are two photos from Heron Island [Great Barrier Reef], one of an animal laying its egg ribbon.
Locality: Heron Island, 14 m., Queensland, Australia, Pacific, 16 March 2004, Subtidal. Length: 65 mm. Photographer: Julie Marshall.
Best wishes,
Julie Marshall
juliegm@gmail.com
Thanks Julie,
Always glad to have a gap filled
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Halgerda aurantiomaculata from sthn Queensland
November 12, 2008
From: Gary Cobb
Hi Bill and everyone!
After reminiscing over one of the early Forum entries from 2003 [message #8817 ], I thought I would send you three photos of a fairly common species here. I noticed there have not any entries since 2003! So here ya go!
They are large and beautiful. Presenting Halgerda aurantiomaculata.
Locality: Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 15 m, Queensland, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 11 November 2008, Subtidal and Intertidal. Length: 40-70 mm. Photographer: Gary Cobb.
Cheers,
Gary
gary@nudibranch.com.au
Cobb, G.C., 2008 (Nov 12) Halgerda aurantiomaculata from sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22034
Thanks Gary,
This species seems to have a fairly restricted distribution in the SW Pacific
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Halgerda aurantiomaculata from the Coral Sea
May 3, 2003
From: Carol Thomas
Dear Bill,
I took this picture at 40 ft. while diving in the Coral Sea near Australia. Thanks to your Forum I have identified the smaller one as Nembrotha lineolata and wondered if you could help me identify the larger one next to it. Are they often found together?
Thanks for your help and this Forum.
Regards,
Carol Thomas
rooski11@insightbb.com
Dear Carol,
Your mystery nudibranch is Halgerda aurantiomaculata. Species of Halgerda are sponge-feeders, while speies of Nembrotha feed on ascidians. Their appearance together is a coincidence.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: yellow-spotted species
January 18, 2003
From: Gary Cobb
Hi Bill,
thanks for the reply. After looking around I came upon an answer... Halgerda aurantiomaculata but with more yellow then orange.
Regards,
Gary Cobb
gary@cobb.com.au
Cobb, G., 2003 (Jan 18) Re: yellow-spotted species. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8924Thanks Gary,
Glad you found an answer. Your sketch certainly looks quite like Steve Grail's photo, with no obvious tubercles, which was also from Mooloolaba. It only goes to show unreliable identifications without photos can be.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman
Yellow-spotted chromodorid
January 6, 2003
From: Gary Cobb
Date found: 02 January 2003
Depth: 23m
rocky reef/ledges outcrops sandy bottom
Location: Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba
Queensland, Australia
Site: The Plates (Outer Gneerings)
Flat white body
Size: about 70mm long
Yellow spots with yellow edges
rhinophores and gill brown-grey in colour
Regards,
Gary Cobb
gary@cobb.com.au
Cobb, G., 2003 (Jan 6) Yellow-spotted chromodorid. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8817Dear Gary,
Your animal looks like a chromodorid but both the likely species Chromodoris aureopurpurea and C. rufomaculata have purple markings at the border rather than yellow. 70mm is quite large for both these species. Of the two I think Chromodoris aureopurpurea is the most likely, but only if the border wasn't yellow.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Halgerda off Mooloolaba
July 22, 1998
From: Wayne Ellis
Hi Bill,
Here is another of Steve Grail's photos. It was taken off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, southern Queensland, in 10-20m, between 1996 and 1998.
Regards
Wayne Ellis
glaskin@ozemail.com.au
Ellis, W., 1998 (Jul 22) Halgerda off Mooloolaba. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/114This is fairly common in eastern Australia on both the Great Barrier Reef and further south. It is also found at Lord Howe Island and Elizabeth Reef in the Coral Sea. Like Halgerda willeyi it has the typical Halgerda features of a smooth firm body, with distinct ridges on the mantle which often form nodules at the junction of the ridges. There are few gills and they are long and only sparsely lamellate. This species is white with large orange patches. ... Bill Rudman
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Jul 22). Comment on Halgerda off Mooloolaba by Wayne Ellis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/114