Halgerda formosa Bergh, 1880

While not a very clear photo, we think this small Halgerda represents H. formosa, even though the Marshall Islands would represent a quite large range extension from its present known distribution in the western Indian Ocean. Most of the specimens shown on the Sea Slug Forum do not resemble ours too much, but a Slug Site Branch of the Week shows one that is quite similar. In the Marshalls, one specimen was found at Utirik Atoll and a second at Kwajalein. The photographed specimen came from Utirik, where it was under a chunk of dead coral at a depth of 15 meters on a lagoon pinnacle. The specimen measured 11mm in length.

Created 15 December 2006
Updated 20 May 2007

Reference:

Fahey, Shireen J. and Terrence M. Gosliner. 1999. Description of Three New Species of Halgerda from the Western Indian Ocean with a Redescription of Halgerda formosa Bergh, 1880. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 51(8): 365-383, 8 Figs.