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 details
Rudman, 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/1902

Dear 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.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Feb 14). Comment on Atsushi's Doris sp.8? is Hallaxa by Clay Carlson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1902

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/1857

Dear 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.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Feb 12). Comment on Amazing dorid from Kerama Id by Atsushi Ono. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1857