OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Ceratosoma sinuata (Hasselt, 1824) 28mm
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Chromodorididae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #3066
- Location: Seragaki, Okinawa (26o 30.4'N, 127o 52.6'E)
[So. end Onna Flats, Horseshoe Cliffs, Seragaki]
- Date: 13 September, 1992 [May '88, Apr '89, Jun '89(2 indiv), Jun '92, Sep '92,
Apr '93(2 indiv), Apr '95]
- Depth: 120ft (36.6m) [Intertidal, 10ft, 10ft, 10ft, 20ft, 25ft, 90ft, 120ft,
165ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: Not recorded
- Size: TL 28mm [19mm, 19mm, 21mm, 24mm, 24mm, 28mm, 31mm, 34mm, 51mm]
- Specimen deposited: RFB Personal Research Collection (different individuals
of the species deposited at Cal Acad Sci)
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Ceratosoma sinuata is considered to be uncommon on Okinawa as I have seen and collected a total of nine individuals since the first one was found on the 18th of May, 1988. This attractive animal is sometimes referred to as the "Jolly Green Giant", although it's sometimes found here without the usual green color, exhibiting a mottled orange pigment.
Page Date: 22 Sep '97
Page Modification Date: 30 Apr '01
Digitally manipulated photo
Copyright © 2001 Robert F. Bolland
