Hallaxa hileenae
Gosliner & Johnson, 1994
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Actinocyclidae
DISTRIBUTION
Western Pacific
PHOTO
Kerama Is. near Okinawa in Japan, 5m depth, 13mm long. PHOTOS: Atsushi Ono.
Differs from other species of Hallaxa in its purple colour and the prominent Y-shaped ridge on the mantle. Animals reported up to 12-13mm long.
Reference:
•Gosliner, T.M. & Johnson, S. (1994) Review of the genus Hallaxa (Nudibranchia: Actinocyclidae) with descriptions of nine new species. The Veliger, 37(2): 155-191.
See Atsushi Ono's message below.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2000 (February 11) Hallaxa hileenae Gosliner & Johnson, 1994. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/hallhile
Related messages
Atsushi's Doris sp.8? is Hallaxa
February 14, 2000
From: Clay Carlson
Bill,
Don't know if Terry has answered you or not -- Atsushi's dorid is Hallaxa hileenae Gosliner & Johnson, 1994.
Clay
clay.carlson@kuentos.guam.net
Carlson, C., 2000 (Feb 14) Atsushi's Doris sp.8? is Hallaxa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1902Dear Clay,
Thanks for the identification. I looked at Gosliner & Johnson (1994) but I'm afraid I didn't connect their description of H. hileenae with Atsushi's animal. Now that I re-read I can see what they mean by a Y-shaped ridge. It's good to clear up another unknown so quickly.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Amazing dorid from Kerama Id
February 12, 2000
From: Atsushi Ono
Dear Bill,
Thank you for ID of Colpodaspis thompsoni. And thank you Dr.Clay Carlson for ID of Ventomnestia villica.
Here are beautiful, strange dorid species.
I found this species 3 individuals on a reef at about 5m depth [at Kerama Is. near Okinawa in Japan]. These photos are of the same individual, 13mm long. The smallest, probably a juvenile, was 4mm long.
This species has a soft body, a rise in the back like a embankment. I'm sorry I can't write this complicated body shape accurately in English.
I think this is DORIDACEA species.
Could you help me to identify this?
Sincerely,
Atsushi Ono
ononini@cosmos.ne.jp
Ono, A., 2000 (Feb 12) Amazing dorid from Kerama Id. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1857Dear Atsushi,
What an interesting looking animal. I've included your photo of the small 4mm specimen here. Yes it is a dorid, but I can't say much more. In shape it looks to me quite like an Actinocyclus or Hallaxa with its 'goblet-shaped' cluster of gills. The patterning on its mantle suggest its mimicking a sponge.
If it does belong to one of those genera, perhaps Terry Gosliner, who has reviewed Hallaxa has some ideas.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.