Batanga's Helgerda

Halgerda batangas is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Discodorididae.

Description

This animal is one of a group of mainly white species of Halgerda with orange markings. It is characterized by a network of fine, solid, red-orange lines on the mantle. It has a white band around the mantle containing low rounded orange-capped tubercles. The mantle tubercles range in size from small rounded bumps to tall, prominent structures.

Distribution

This species was described from the Philippines, with a holotype specimen measuring 40 mm in length, alive, from Mactan Island, Cebu and a paratype measuring 35 mm from Anilao, Batangas. It is found in the tropical western Pacific, including: Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Mabul, New Britain, the Davao Gulf, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Sulawesi, Great Barrier Reef and Taiwan.

Habitat

Found singly or in pairs on coral and rocky reefs amongst sand and rubble areas. It feeds on hydroids, coral, sponges and anemones.