Halgerda albocristata is uncommon but not rare at Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls. Most specimens are found under dead coral on lagoon reefs and pinnacles, but they can occasionally be found on the seaward reef as well. Depths ranged from 3 to 20 meters. Seven measured specimens ranged from 10 to 23mm in length. Halgerda albocristata was first reported in the Marshalls from Kwajalein Atoll as Halgerda elegans by Johnson & Boucher (1984).
The specimen below was photographed at about 4m on a Kwajalein lagoon reef on 1 March 2009.
This animal and egg mass were under the same rock on a lagoon pinnacle on 19 February 2013, but we cannot be certain they went together.
Seventeen individuals observed by John and Lynette Flynn at Rongelap Atoll ranged from mostly white (first photo below) to more typical yellow (second photo) to brownish yellow. These two measured 15 and 16mm respectively.
Another specimen from Rongelap is from Ken Cone and Beth Van Zummeren.
Created 15 December 2006
Updated 3 May 2021