Halgerda sp. (undescribed)
Wow - check this beauty out! Graham came across it in Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia during one of his sea slug photography events. A spectacular find. Reviewing all known species in Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification. . Only one species, Halgerda okinawa , is even close. Both have tall yellow tubercles and black marks on the dorsum, but in H. okinawa these markings are dashes and lines, while in Graham's animal they are large circles or rings with a few spots lower on the dorsum. The gill of the two species is quite similar. Well I guess we will just have to wait until we have specimens to examine, but being that this critter resides in Indonesia, a no collection country, we should not hold our breath.
Graham, and Stan Waterman talking cameras between dives
Graham Abbott is a full time dive guide and cruise director with his own business in Bali, Indonesia. Diving 4 Images . The mainstay of Graham's business is leading photographic, scientific and survey expeditions throughout the Asia Pacific. Graham has led many of the world’s leading underwater photo journalists, film makers and marine experts though still in his spare time he can be found diving round Bali and other great critter spots in search of new, rare and unusual species! Grahams passion for sea slugs came at a real early stage in his diving career. Whilst on Sipadan island in 1997 and constantly seeing plenty of sharks, turtles and pelagic fishes Graham wondered what else was down there and with his first dive buddy he came no notice the smaller and more interesting marine critters. Later on Graham found himself on the wrong island while trying to get to Wakatobi Dive Resort in search of work. Graham ended up on Hoga island homebase of Operation Wallacea and immediately started to help with nudibranch studies and benthic training for students who were logging data on nudibranchs in this island group! Graham also has his own nudibranch page . |
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