Halgerda albocristata? from nthn Mariana Islands

August 2, 2006
From: Yuji Fujie

Dear Dr.Bill,
We thought this animal was Halgerda albocristata at first. But it has only black spots.

Locality: Wing Beach, 5m, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean, 29 July 2006, on th dead coral. Length: 10mm. Photographer: Yuji Fujie.

Would you give us your advice, please ?
Yuji

dswith@isletwind.com

Yuji Fujie, 2006 (Aug 2) Halgerda albocristata? from nthn Mariana Islands. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17292

Dear Yuji,
Halgerda albocristata  is a very recently described species, and in most cases, we still have much to learn about such species. I think you should think of your animal as a spotted form of H. albocristata rather than as a problem because it 'lacks' black lines around the mantle edge.

It's always good to get more specimens of new species because they help us to fill in the gaps in our knowledge. I suspect this is a form in which the radial black lines are replaced by black spots. Perhaps in the future we will find an 'intermediate' form with some lines and some spots.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Aug 2). Comment on Halgerda albocristata? from nthn Mariana Islands by Yuji Fujie. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17292

Factsheet

Halgerda albocristata

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