OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Glossodoris averni Rudman, 1985 (64mm)
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Chromodorididae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #1913-B
- Location: Tengan Pier (26o24.0'N, 127o51.1'E) [Horseshoe Cliffs, Seragaki, Tengan]
- Date: 1 August, 1987 [Mar '84, Aug '87, Apr '89, Jul '90, Dec, '90, Mar, 91, May, 91, Jun, 92]
- Depth: 30~40ft (9~12m) [40ft, 40ft, 40ft, 140ft, 170ft, 170ft, 180ft, 210ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: 80.1oF (26.7oC)
- Size: TL 64mm [21mm, 28mm, 28mm, 35mm, 39mm, 56mm, 64mm]
- Specimen deposited: Unknown disposition, possibly photo only (different individuals of the species deposited at Cal Acad Sci).
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Glossodoris averni is considered to be uncommon on Okinawa as I have seen and collected a total of eight individuals, although I have seen quite a few that were not collected. It's been my experience to note that these strikingly attractive
chromodorids are more frequently seen at Tengan Pier than at any other site on Okinawa. They are found crawling upon the heavily encrusted pier pilings, as well as at the base of the pilings where there are high amounts of strewn oyster shell rubble and silty sand.
Page Date: 20 Jan '97
Page Modification Date: 16 Feb '04
Digitally manipulated photo
Copyright © 2004 Robert F. Bolland
