OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Aegires villosus Farran, 1905 (3mm)
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Aegiridae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #3362-B
- Location: Seragaki (26° 30.4'N, 127° 52.6'E) [2 collected,
both from Seragaki]
- Date: 24 February, 1995 [30 Apr 93, 24 Feb 95]
- Depth: 220ft (67m) [15ft & 220ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: 65.4°F (18.5°C)
- Size: TL 3mm [3mm & 11mm]
- Specimen deposited: California Academy of Sciences
- Photo Data: Original Kodachrome shot at 3:1
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Aegires villosus is considered to be very rare on Okinawa as I have seen and collected a total of only two individuals. The above featured animal was found later at home crawling in a plastic collecting bag consisting of octocorals collected from 220 feet during a SCUBA excursion.
The following Aegires species are known from the waters of Okinawa's main island:
Page Date: 09 Jul '97
Page Modification Date: 08 Aug '05
Digitally manipulated photo
Copyright © 2005 Robert F. Bolland
