Halgerda sp. 6
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Dorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from NW Australia
PHOTO
Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, 12m, Western Australia, Indian Ocean, Ningaloo Reef, 2004, hard coral & limestone reef. Length: 3 - 4 cms. Photographer: Kristin Anderson.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2006 (March 15) Halgerda sp. 6 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/halgsp6
Related messages
Halgerda sp. 6 - mating
March 17, 2006
From: Kristin Anderson
In addition to my message [#15883 ]on this Halgerda sp here are some more photos including a close-up of mating.
These two individuals were a fair distance apart (at least 3m), in fact, I didn't see the second crawling up behind me until I returned to the first one with my dive buddy! Interestingly, when I saw the first one I did not see a trail behind it, but as soon as I saw the second one there was a distinctive trail behind it. As I watched them approach, both were leaving distinctive trails. The second slug headed directly towards the first slug; slug number one at first seemed as if it would turn away, but then straightened out directly towards slug 2.
Once connected they remained that way for at least 10 minutes. I did not return to them after that so don't know how much longer they stayed together.
Locality: Lighthouse Bay, 10m, Western Australia, Indian Ocean, Ningaloo Reef, 25 February, 2006, hard coral & limestone reef. Length: 3-4cm. Photographer: Kristin Anderson.
Kristin Anderson
kristin@OceansByAnderson.com
Anderson, K. J., 2006 (Mar 17) Halgerda sp. 6 - mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15984
Thanks Kristin,
Bill Rudman
Undescribed Halgerda from NW Australia
March 17, 2006
From: Kristin Anderson
This appears to be an undescribed species of Halgerda - at least we can't find it and Shireen Fahey thought it was undescribed a while back, too!
These aren't particularly uncommon out of Exmouth. Appreciate any insight - and if there is none, perhaps it will help the next person who sees one not go crazy trying to ID it!
Locality: Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, 12m, Western Australia, Indian Ocean, Ningaloo Reef, 2004, hard coral & limestone reef. Length: 3 - 4 cms. Photographer: Kristin Anderson.
Kristin Anderson
kristin@OceansByAnderson.com
Anderson, K.J., 2006 (Mar 17) Undescribed Halgerda from NW Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15883
Dear Kristin,
If Shireen thinks its an unnamed species I guess there is little point me going crazy looking for a name. I must say I don't recognise it. What would be useful is if you can keep a look out for colour variation. I'll add it to the Forum as Halgerda sp. 6
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
